Fewer immigrants are seeking Oregon health care benefits under Trump • Oregon Capital Chronicle:
Two years after its launch, the Healthier Oregon program reached peak enrollment of 107,000 people in June, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. That includes people who have refugee status, lawful permanent residents, those enrolled in Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, work or student visa holders and others who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid if it weren’t for their immigration status.
Enrollment dropped to 97,000 people in January, according to state health officials, who attributed the change to concerns about data privacy and increasing immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
Oregon spends $1.5 billion—yes, with a “B”—per biennium on Healthier Oregon, providing free healthcare to illegal immigrants. It is one of the more unbelievable state expenditures given that state taxpayers foot the bill. (Federal law bars the use of federal money for illegal immigrants.) Not all people in Healthier Oregon are here illegally—Oregon knows the exact number but isn’t telling—but it’s likely that the vast majority are. (Probably 70,000-90,000 people.)
I’m not sure that an enrollment drop is the bad news that state officials (and the media!) believe it is. Some of us would much rather this money be spent to make healthcare less expensive for US citizens or, barring that, returned to Oregon taxpayers.