A Letter to the Editor

Dear editor,

The current law states that undocumented immigrants are not eligible to get health coverage.

They are only allowed to get coverage through documented individuals. They also do not qualify for

Medicaid or Medicare even though many have been paying into social security and Medicare for as long

as they have lived in the United States, which could be decades or longer. There needs to be a change of

policy that allows undocumented people, specifically elderly people, to get health insurance. With the

large population of undocumented people in Utah, we need to make a change. Undocumented elderly

people need to have access to healthcare because it would help them prevent health problems, it is

inhumane and cruel to allow them healthcare, and there would be less elderly abuse.

Because there are few options of affordable health care undocumented elderly people are not

getting basic human rights and needs. They are unable to go to the dentist or doctors without an enormous

bill, and many feel unsafe about going to social workers, clinics, and health resource centers, because they

fear they will get reported.

Their needs to be affordable healthcare/change of Medicaid policies is so that they can get

treatment before the sickness gets out of hand. Currently elderly undocumented people are unable to take

preventive measures to stay in good health. An undocumented, elderly man named Marco was being

interviewed in the article Aging, Undocumented and Uninsured Immigrants Challenge Cities and States.

He said, “I don’t know if I have high blood pressure,” he said, laughing ruefully, “Because I don’t check.

Doctors, you know, are expensive.” Medicaid does set aside a portion of funding that covers anyone who

has a same-day emergency that cannot afford to pay for the high cost of the hospital. If they were able to

get insurance they could go to the doctor for high-blood pressure, cancer screenings and sickness before it

becomes a serious problem. Taxpayer dollars would be less likely to be used in the Medicaid same-day

emergency fund because the issues would have been detected and treated earlier. The reason as to why
elderly people are sent to the emergency room, like high blood pressure, stroke, cancer can be detected

early on.

Another reason many do not go to the doctor is because of the enormous cost of health centers.

This is a terrible and stressful way to live. I work at an assisted living center and even under the watch of

nurses, CNA’s and staff, many have falls that lead to serious injury and broken bones. Now imagine if

you cannot go to the doctor to get an x-ray, fit for a cast, or receive medicine because the cost is too high.

Every person should have a basic right to be able to get treatment. They should not have to suffer and be

bedridden because they cannot afford treatment. That is a cruel and inhumane for anybody to have to go

through, especially as many of these people have been working to better the economy and contributing to

the community for years. Many of them have living in the United States for most of their life.

Many are not able to get the care that they need because of the high cost of senior living centers,

hospitals, and rehab centers. This forces them to be cared for by family, who may not be up for the task,

stress, financial Burdon and responsibility that comes with caring for an elderly individual, especially one

that has dementia, or cannot care for themselves. When speaking to a social care worker people with

dementia can have the brain capacity equivalent of a child, which requires a lot of care. This can lead to

physical, verbal, financial abuse, and neglect. Elderly abuse is a prominent issue, but when you take away

the insurance and resources in order to get help/treatment it becomes much more common. Family

members who are trying to make a living and support children of their own are not able to stay home and

watch/care for them most of the time. That can most often lead to neglect. Many times, it is not reported

because of the fear that they will get reported and deported. They also may not take their parents/older

relatives to the doctor because of the high cost and bills that they may have to pay.

Undocumented elderly people need to have access to healthcare because it would help them

prevent health problems, it is inhumane and cruel to allow them healthcare, and there would be less

elderly abuse. We need to make a change to these policies as these seniors deserved basic human rights.
Sincerely,

Sierra