Some sort of health care plan will become law within the next month or so. It will likely not contain two major provisions that were originally at the heart of the plan. These are a "public option" and "universality" of care. The first has received a lot of attention, but the latter... not so much. Although health care coverage will be expanded, millions of people will remain uninsured. Who are they, and why isn't this the subject of more discussion?
The people who will remain uninsured are illegal immigrants. The Republicans don't want to discuss this, because they are cool with it. Democrats don't want to discuss it because they are embarrassed by it, and besides, they have in mind a couple other ways to skin this cat. One way around the exclusion of illegals from the health care plan is to allow them to purchase participation in a health insurance exchange with their own money. This will be debated by Democrats during reconciliation. While this might find its way into the final bill, many illegals will still find it too expensive to participate. So, what then?
Well, when the Dems turn their attention to immigration reform, this will be resolved when they propose an easy path to citizenship for illegals. Having attained citizenship, these people will entitled to participate fully in the health care program, and universal coverage will be achieved.
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