Senate Health Care Proposal Includes Verification
Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) released his proposal for health care reform, which includes language for citizenship verification that would attempt to prevent illegal aliens from receiving affordability credits under the bill.
Sen. Baucus' markup includes eligibility requirements for individuals who meet income criteria to receive affordability credits that can be used to purchase health insurance on a health care exchange. The proposal excludes illegal aliens from receiving affordability credits and provides a requirement for states to verifiy citizenship eligibility.
Name, social security number, and date of birth will be verified with Social Security Administration (SSA) data. For individuals claiming to be U.S. citizens, if the claim of citizenship is consistent with SSA data then the claim will be considered substantiated. For individuals who do not claim to be U.S. citizens but claim to be lawfully present in the United States, if the claim of lawful presence is consistent with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data then the claim will be considered substantiated.
-- Pages 21-22 of summary for America's Healthy Future Act
The markup also says that illegal aliens living in households that may qualify for affordability credits will not be counted towards determining credit eligibility. However, there is no bill yet in the Senate, so it's unsure of exactly how the verification mechanism will work and how it will be enforced.
The Chairman's markup can be read in its entirety on the Senate Finance Committee's website.