Dear EBRC Members,
I am sure you have been following the saga of the Federal Government shutdown.
There are many falsehoods being put out by both the media and the Democrat Party.
The must flawed is that over the issue of healthcare. The Dems say that the
Republicans are out to get the older population and to deny needy people their
citizen’s rights to healthcare while the Republicans are sticking with the issue that the
Democrats have ,through various manipulations, been supplying illegal immigrants with
healthcare.
Using taxpayer dollars to subsidize criminals to stay in the United States on the outside
chance that they (the Democrats) will be able to fight the Republicans to a standstill
and get them to allow this lawbreakers to become voting members of society is
Constitutionally and Morally wrong.
For clarification, Here’s a state-by-state profile sheet you can use for Florida
audiences. It highlights the contrast between what Democrat-led jurisdictions are doing
with undocumented immigrant health coverage versus what Florida (and similar states)
are doing.
I hope it helps to clarify this situation for you.
Frank Bell, President
East Broward Republican Party
“Who Really Pays for Illegal Immigrant Health Care?”
State & City Programs Offering Health Care to Undocumented Immigrants
California
Notes: Newsom now proposing premiums and freezes due to cost overruns.Illinois
Program: Full-scope Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status (as of Jan 2024, all
adults included).
Enrollment: State projected ~700,000 new enrollees.
Cost: $2.8B budget plug + $3.44B borrowing in 2024; projected $8.4B (FY24–25),
$7.4B (FY25–26).
- Program: Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors (65+) and Adults (42–64).
- Enrollment: Capped/suspended due to runaway costs.
- Cost: Estimates range $400M–$900M in liabilities.
- Notes: Heavy political pushback; state scrambling to control expenses.
Oregon - Program: “Healthier Oregon” (Oregon Health Plan expansion to all, regardless of
status). - Launched: July 2023.
- Notes: Costs absorbed into OHP but data shows significant budget strain.
Washington State - Program: Apple Health expansion, regardless of status.
- Launched: July 2024.
- Notes: State-funded wrap into Medicaid.
Washington, D.C. - Program: DC Health Care Alliance (safety-net insurance).
- Enrollment: ~27,000.
- Cost: Proposed $457M in cuts over 4 years due to overspending.
- Notes: Oct 2025 new restrictions incoming.
New York City (city-level) - Program: NYC Care (guaranteed access to city hospital network regardless of status).
- Enrollment: 143,500 in FY2024 (+20% YoY
- Democrat-led states/cities are absorbing billions in costs for undocumented care—
often running over budget. - Florida/Texas model: minimal state spending, only federally mandated emergency
coverage, but still shouldering ER costs. - Migration incentive: Jobs/family remain the main driver, but free health programs create
a secondary magnet effect for settlement in Democrat strongholds. - Political angle: These programs deepen the partisan divide—blue states expand benefits,
red states clamp down. Democrats argue humanitarian/public health; Republicans argue
fiscal burden + migration incentive.