{"id":631419,"date":"2018-10-03T13:45:57","date_gmt":"2018-10-03T19:45:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=631419"},"modified":"2018-10-04T08:23:26","modified_gmt":"2018-10-04T14:23:26","slug":"immigrants-health-premiums-far-exceed-what-plans-pay-for-their-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2018\/10\/immigrants-health-premiums-far-exceed-what-plans-pay-for-their-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Immigrants’ health premiums far exceed what plans pay for their care"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Border

Heath Haussamen \/ NMPolitics.net<\/p>

A scene from the U.S.\/Mexico border. In the foreground, behind a barbed-wire fence, U.S. Border Patrol agents speak with each other in El Paso, Texas. Across the Rio Grande, in the background, is Cuidad Ju\u00e1rez, Mexico.<\/p><\/div>\n

President Donald Trump has repeatedly condemned U.S. immigration policy, arguing that many immigrants pose a threat to the nation and drain U.S. resources. But a study released Monday about health insurance challenges the president\u2019s portrayal.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0study in the journal Health Affairs<\/a>\u00a0found that immigrants covered by private health insurance and their employers contributed nearly $25 billion more in premiums in 2014 than was spent on their care. Those in the country without legal status contributed nearly $8 billion toward the surplus.<\/p>\n

In contrast, U.S.-born enrollees spent nearly $25 billion more than they paid for in premiums.<\/p>\n

These findings surface as the Trump administration\u2019s immigration policies \u2014 including a plan to tie migrants\u2019 efforts to get permission for permanent residency to their use of federal benefit programs \u2014 have come under scrutiny.<\/p>\n

Earlier studies also found that immigrants contribute more to Medicare than they receive in benefits, but the authors of this study say it is the first to look at the effect in private insurance plans.<\/p>\n