Tuesday, March 1, 2016
NYS Health Foundation, Advocates Weigh in on Immigrant Health Care
Ana Rodriguez was thrilled when she first received health insurance through New York state's Medicaid program.
It made her feel just like everyone else, said Rodriguez, who was brought to Miami from the Dominican Republic when she was 6 years old.
Her immigration status kept her from obtaining a Florida driver's license, which made commuting a hassle, so at age 24 she moved to New York, which had a more accessible public transportation system, and where, thanks to a New York court ruling, she was able to enroll in Medicaid, the health insurance program for low-income residents. . .
“New York already offers Medicaid at full State expense to very low income people with DACA status,” David Sandman, president and CEO of the New York State Health Foundation, said in an email. “This provision would rationalize the coverage system for a small number of young immigrants who would otherwise be cut off and punished for earning even a dollar more than the Medicaid threshold.”. . .