On Thursday, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, revealed that an internal examination has revealed over $1 billion in Medicaid expenditures directed to undocumented immigrants across various states—a situation he claims the Trump administration is addressing.
“For a considerable time, the Democrats have been misleading the public regarding the allocation of Medicaid resources to illegal immigrants,” Oz remarked during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
The issue of providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants has emerged as a contentious point in the current government shutdown, which has now lasted three weeks. Republicans contend that Democrats have allowed federal healthcare funding to be misallocated while hindering measures aimed at reducing government spending.
Oz noted that the investigation his agency is conducting is still in its initial stages and that the current figure pertains to a limited number of states.
“If you are a taxpayer in Texas or Florida—where most people do pay federal taxes—your contributions are being rerouted to states like California that provide extensive benefits to undocumented immigrants,” he stated.
“We are currently investigating this issue and plan to monitor it nationwide.”
Meanwhile, Democrats remain resolute in their stance on government reopening, asserting they will not approve a funding bill unless it includes an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies due to expire in 2025. They warn that inaction before the upcoming open enrollment in November could result in millions of Americans facing increased premiums.
Despite this, the White House claims that Democrats are prioritizing billions in Medicaid coverage for illegal immigrants.
“The Democrats’ proposal could lead to nearly $200 billion allocated for healthcare services for illegal immigrants and other non-citizens over the next ten years—an amount sufficient to fund the entire Children’s Health Insurance Program,” stated the White House in a recent statement.
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Oz emphasized that the issue is a moral one, arguing that taxpayer funds should not be used for healthcare provisions for individuals who do not contribute to the system.
“We cannot simply disperse these funds to able-bodied illegal immigrants in states based on what is perceived as a moral obligation,” he asserted.
“If they wish to receive such services, they must pay for them themselves.”
While federal law does not permit illegal immigrants to enroll in Medicaid, certain states exploit loopholes that allow them to access specific healthcare benefits funded by Medicaid.
Oz stated that his office is now seeking to close these loopholes.
“We aim to recapture all those funds back into our federal treasury. The president is focused on safeguarding the interests of American taxpayers.”
