Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
**Clarification** – Refugees (they may apply to become Lawful Permanent Residents after one year in the US) are exempt from this new rule, although other Lawful Permanent Residents are not exempted (e.g. refugees’ family members who immigrate via family member status), except for pregnant women and children (those under age 21) . See January 5, 2012 Sun Journal article.
Changes to Maine law governing its Medicaid program (MaineCare), sold to voters by Gov. Paul LePage as a way to save money, are now preventing lawful permanent residents from access to Medicaid during their first 5 years (this does not affect refugees access to Medicaid during their first 8 months in the US). The changes also scapegoats, and singles out for exclusion, people waiting on decisions to their asylum applications. All of these people are poor, and many are elderly, disabled or frail, and have serious health care needs. An Op-ed in the Portland Press Herald details the case:
In October, about 500 legal immigrants, mostly living in Portland and Lewiston, lost their health insurance coverage, which had been provided through MaineCare.
The change in law affects lawful permanent residents who haven’t had that status for at least five years, as well as asylum seekers who have a pending application with the federal government.
Just like refugees, many of these folks have escaped atrocities in their own country or faced persecution based on their race, religion or political beliefs.
Now they are being singled out again…
…While the decision to eliminate health insurance coverage was sold as a way to save money by Gov. Paul LePage, that will not be the end result.
This insensitive change in the law merely shifts and hides costs, while leaving 500 people in our communities at risk of reduced access to health care.
All of these individuals are poor, and many are elderly, disabled or frail.
Many have serious health care needs, and in many cases, the community supports that do exist are unable to meet their serious health care needs when they become uninsured.
The cost will fall back on the state either way…
But perhaps, even more distressing, the policy doesn’t really accomplish its stated goal, which is to reduce costs.
While the money to pay for MaineCare for 500 people is removed from the state budget, the need for medical care doesn’t disappear.
It is shifted onto communities and health care providers such as clinics and hospitals.
Instead of receiving assistance through MaineCare, which has cost controls and a focus on preventative care, they are forced to rely upon emergency rooms, where the cost of care is the highest… Read more here
and
…Many of the new immigrants in Maine fall into a category described as asylum seekers because they are individuals waiting for an asylum decision from the federal government. As a result of new state laws, many of these individuals can no longer get help from the safety net programs administered by the state.
Being a person seeking asylum in a new country is already an uncertain time. It’s a time of limbo and people in this position may need some assistance from others until the immigration process grants the permits necessary to be able to get a paid job. It’s a time that calls for compassion… Read more here
Also see Maine Equal Justice Partners handout, here.
