Comments in Response to Proposed Rulemaking: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds
December 10, 2018
Comments
The “public charge” assessment allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review an immigrant’s request to enter the United States or to get a green card to determine if they are likely to become primarily dependent on government benefit programs. Currently, this assessment includes only the receipt of cash benefits and institutional long-term care. The proposed rule would extend this assessment and penalize people with even modest use of vital programs like Medicaid, housing assistance, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps), and Medicare Extra Help. This means a dramatic increase in both the scope and punitive effect of public charge. The proposal also includes penalties for being over 61 or having a disability. This is unfair targeting of older adults and people with disabilities, along with their families, who are on the path to citizenship. Because of this, we strongly oppose the proposed rule and we urge DHS to withdraw the rule in its entirety.
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
You can help protect and strengthen Medicare by taking action on the important issues we are following, subscribe to newsletter alerts, or follow along on social media. Any way you choose to get involved is a contribution that we appreciate greatly.
Comments in Response to Proposed Rulemaking: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds
The “public charge” assessment allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to review an immigrant’s request to enter the United States or to get a green card to determine if they are likely to become primarily dependent on government benefit programs. Currently, this assessment includes only the receipt of cash benefits and institutional long-term care. The proposed rule would extend this assessment and penalize people with even modest use of vital programs like Medicaid, housing assistance, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps), and Medicare Extra Help. This means a dramatic increase in both the scope and punitive effect of public charge. The proposal also includes penalties for being over 61 or having a disability. This is unfair targeting of older adults and people with disabilities, along with their families, who are on the path to citizenship. Because of this, we strongly oppose the proposed rule and we urge DHS to withdraw the rule in its entirety.
Reference
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Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
You can help protect and strengthen Medicare by taking action on the important issues we are following, subscribe to newsletter alerts, or follow along on social media. Any way you choose to get involved is a contribution that we appreciate greatly.