Institutions
Immigration is one of the debatable issues in the United States. It is worth nothing that legal and illegal immigration affect the health care system. One of the impacts is the burden on taxpayers. This is because of the increased costs that are absorbed by the healthcare system. Centre for Immigration Studies asserts that the cost of treating illegal immigrants is on the rise. The cost increase is transferred to taxpayers and the U.S citizens with insurance. This is because insurance companies increase the rates to meet the increasing costs of health care. Also, lack of insurance means that most immigrants use emergency departments, which are very expensive as primary care provider (O'Leary, 2014). This means that U.S citizens who seek emergency services are forced to face overcrowding. Another impact is increased uncompensated costs in the health care systems. The hospitals are forced to cut back services, reduce staff, increase rates and close trauma centers to meet uncompensated costs. The hospitals along the border are the most affected by immigration.
Treating of illegal immigrants in Houston-Texas is shaped by various programs and policies. In a critical analysis, illegal immigrants should not access the publicly funded health care. The issues are that denying illegal immigrants access to health care may affect U.S born children who are eligible for health care services (Patel & Rushefsky. 2014). The illegal immigrants should access health care at a little fee. This may assist in meeting the increased costs of health care. Texas is one of the states that is facing insurance crisis. The state is spending millions on immigrants. Immigrant reform legislation should be passed. For example, Harris County Hospital District spend millions on uncompensated care (Murphy & Kliewer, 2004). There is a possibility that illegal immigrants will be the highest population at the hospital.
Health care reform is a very crucial step in dealing with health care system in the United States. The reforms assist in slowing down the cost of health care. Notably, the reforms are streamlined towards reducing the financial risk of illegal immigrants who are uninsured. Texas and other states benefit from the reforms, especially financially and economically.
References
Murphy, B. & Kliewer, T. (2004). Harris County to Serve Immigrants Health Needs. Houston Chronicle.
O'Leary, A. O. (2014). Undocumented immigrants in the United States: An encyclopedia of their experience. Santa Barbara, Calif: Greenwood.Patel, K. & Rushefsky. M. (2014). Healthcare politics and Policy in America. New York: Routledge.
