Andrew Friedman

Harming Immigrants

Ming Qiang Zhao was a Chinese immigrant living in New York City.

When he got sick, though, fear, language barriers and poverty kept him from accessing the medical care that he needed. As a result, he died. He is just one out hundreds of thousands of immigrants who suffer physical pain and death because they cannot access the medical care that would keep themselves and their families healthy.

Nina Bernstein wrote an excellent and comprehensive article for Friday's New York Times (Recourse Grows Slim for Immigrants who Fall Ill) about this issue. She points out that in addition to language barriers and the fear among immigrants that has
been engendered by post-9/11 political hostility to immigrants, 80 bills in 20 states sought to prevent non-citizens from accessing health care and other basic services.

While this is all tragic and cruel, it is also financially irresponsible. Ms. Bernstein points out that by the time Ming Tong Zhao reached the hospital, his condition had worsened to the point that his care cost Medicaid $5,400 a day. If he had received timely treatment, this expense could likely have been avoided.

Most importantly, though, he would be alive today. He would be able to spend time with his children.

He would not just be an example of how abhorrently cruel our health care system and our society can be.

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Posted at 10:39 AM, Mar 06, 2006 in Health Care
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