But they don't have insurance

Riddle me this Batman.

Allegedly, people without health insurance have no access to health care. If that's the case, how is it that illegal immigrant's health care cost the state of Texas 677 million dollars.

The state of Texas and local hospital districts spent an estimated $677 million to provide health care to illegal immigrants in a year, a new study says.

The survey, issued by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, said that most of the money — $597 million — was spent by local hospital districts for the immigrants' care during the state's fiscal year that ended on Aug. 31, 2007.

Lawmakers from both parties said they were not surprised by the millions spent and expressed hope that the report, required by the 2007 Legislature, will help prompt Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said the study only tells half of the story.

He noted that the immigrants contribute to government coffers by paying sales and property taxes.

The report said that in the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2008, the state spent $80 million under the Texas Emergency Medicaid program, which pays hospitals to provide life-saving care, including labor and delivery services, to patients living here illegally. The state also paid $1.2 million to provide services to undocumented immigrants in family violence shelters.

Federal law requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency treatment regardless of their citizenship, legal status or ability to pay.

Whoa, whoa, whoa!!!! You mean to tell me if I don't have health insurance, hospitals still have to take care of my emergency!

How is that possible if I don't have health insurance?

One of the things republicans need to do to is start educating the public on the distinction between health insurance and access to health care.

Case in point, everyone in Canada has insurance. Unfortunately, they have little access to actual medical care. In some cases it takes six months for an MRI. Canada's health care has created the only growth industry in Buffalo NY.

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