Immigrants for years have paid far more into Medicare’s coffers than they have drawn out, effectively subsidizing rising health care payments to the aging U.S. population, according to an analysis from Harvard Medical School released on May 29. From 2002 through 2009, immigrants posted a Medicare surplus of $115 billion, while the American-born population logged a deficit of $28 billion in contributions. The Harvard researchers said their analysis offers a look at the potential impact changes to U.S. immigration policies could have on health care funding. “Policies that reduce immigration would almost certainly weaken Medicare’s financial health, while an increasing flow of immigrants might bolster its sustainability,” they wrote.
Immigrants Subsidize Medicare Costs
Show Comments ()
1
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
Gala West
10 years 4 months ago
The future of health insurance is a huge sticking point for politicians around the country. For many individuals, however, the future of health insurance matters not nearly as much as the current cost of medical coverage. The individual insurance market has a wide range of costs, and many young people are simply choosing to go without health insurance.
The latest from america
This week on “Preach,” the Rev. Peter Wojcik, the pastor of St. Clement Church in Chicago, Ill., preaches for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B, and shares strategies for preaching to a parish of mostly young adults.
“His presence brings prestige to our nation and to the entire Group of 7. It is the first time that a pope will participate in the work of the G7,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said.
“Many conflicting, divergent and often contradictory views of the human person have found wide acceptance … they have led to holders of traditional theories being cancelled or even losing their jobs,” the bishops said.
Robots can give you facts. But they can’t give you faith.