NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As part of the National Health Care Reform, illegal immigrants are not supposed to be receiving coverage. Reporter Ben Becker showed us a provision in Medicaid is enabling them to receive coverage at your expense. Federal law mainly bars illegal immigrants form obtaining Medicaid coverage, but the program pays out $2 billion a year to reimburse hospitals for illegals giving birth, this according to Kaiser Health News. Joanne Aquilina is the Chief Financial Officer of Bethesda Healthcare System in Boynton Beach, told Kaiser. "We can't turn them away", adding that nearly 1/3 of its annual 2900 births are paid for by emergency Medicaid funding.

"I would be a moron to say that's okay," says taxpayer Ron Kaplan. "It's not okay."

Kaplan is a taxpayer and doesn't like how his money is being used.

"People coming here and having babies on our time is not the way to do business," says Kaplan.

Hospitals can't ask patients if they're illegal immigrants, but make the determination after checking whether they have Social Security numbers, birth certificates or other documents. Kaiser says the 3 highest spenders on emergency Medicaid for illegal immigrants in 2011 were New York ($528 million), Texas ($331 million) and Florida ($214 million).

"I think it's good," says new mother Rosemary Cavassa.

Cavassa's from Brazil and has lived in the U.S. for 16 years. She had insurance, but it still cost her thousands.

"Some people really need it, they don't have insurance," says Cavassa. "So if they need it, they need it."

In the past, Florida could not turn patients away, but last year the Sunshine State changed its policy until a judge ruled against the state. It's currently on appeal. If you see money being wasted, log onto our website and click on WASTE WATCH and let us know about it.
WASTE WATCH SPECIAL Part 4