Government Healthcare Policy, Business and Technology

Why Trump's Legal Immigration Rule Could Raise Your Health Premiums

Governing: The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to propose a rule that would deter legal immigrants from using government services. The rule, according to leaked drafts of it, would make it harder for legal immigrants to become citizens or get green cards if they have ever used a wide range of public welfare, including Medicaid, food stamps, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and subsidies to buy health insurance.

There are already scattered reports of immigrants, afraid of jeopardizing their shot at permanent residency, choosing not to use health benefits for which they -- or their children -- qualify. If a significant number of legal immigrants forgo health insurance, that could have negative ripple effects on so-called Obamacare premiums and on the health-care system as a whole.

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