Nov
30
For many illegal immigrants, the fear of deportation outweighs the pain of illness or injury, so they live with their afflictions until their health problems become critical which makes things worse for them, for hospitals that eventually treat them and for taxpayers who ultimately foot the bill.
The health care costs associated with treating undocumented immigrants are unclear because hospitals and community health centers do not ask patients about their legal status. According to USA Today, a recent Congressional Budget Office report found that at the state and local level, undocumented immigrants cost more in public services such as education and health care than they pay in taxes.