Rep. Steube Files Bill to End Medicaid Benefits for Illegals

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) joined Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) this week in introducing the Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act, legislation aimed at ending the abuse of taxpayer-funded Medicaid benefits by illegal immigrants.

"Medicaid should only be for American citizens, not those who intentionally break our laws. Several states are abusing loopholes in federal tax law to waste money on healthcare handouts for illegal aliens," said Rep. Steube. "Rewarding criminals with benefits paid for by law-abiding Americans is unfair, expensive, and flat-out wrong. That is why Senator Paul and I are fighting to keep Medicaid for Americans only."

Background:
Federal law currently prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving full Medicaid benefits. However, several states have exploited loopholes in the Medicaid expansion provision of the Affordable Care Act to bypass these restrictions and provide coverage to individuals in the country illegally.

• California is one of at least seven states that have extended full Medicaid benefits to illegal immigrants ages 26 to 49.
• The Excluding Illegal Aliens from Medicaid Act closes these loopholes and ensures that illegal immigrants are immediately excluded from eligibility under Medicaid.

Read the full bill here.