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You just can't make this stuff up.
The Hartford Business Journal published an article yesterday about how the ‘HUSKY for immigrants’ program might blow through its original budget due to "high demand."
The program was originally launched in January 2023 with about 4,250 children expected to sign up.
Yet by February 2024, illegals were already rallying in Hartford to expand the 'HUSKY for immigrants' program to include all illegals over the age of 15.
Undocumented immigrants and advocates rallying at the state Capitol again for expanding state-run HUSKY health insurance plan to undocumented immigrants over age 15. pic.twitter.com/x1zgAYjgQZ
— Paul Hughes (@RA_PaulHughes) February 14, 2024
By April 2024, around 11,000 children had enrolled in 'HUSKY for immigrants'.
The program grew to 15,000 children by July 2024 when children up to age 16 were included -- that's approximately 3.5x more children than were originally expected to sign up.
The original budget for FY 2024 was $11.5M, growing to $18.9M in 2025.
Apparently, the Department of Social Services ("DSS"), which runs "HUSKY for immigrants", doesn't actually know exactly how much the program costs to run, but hopes to have a better idea by February 2025.
That being said, by April 2024, DSS had already estimated the program would cost $25M, more than double the original FY 2024 budget of $11.5M.
Governor Ned Lamont knew by February 2024 that the 'HUSKY for immigrants' budget was blowing up, and estimated the program might cost as much as $30M for fiscal year 2025, well north of the original $18.9M budget.
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora complained the state had "a brand new program that’s not capped, and we don’t have any easy way of ascertaining the cost."
Republican leadership called for an end to the 'HUSKY for immigrants' program entirely in light of other budgetary issues, including a $200M medicare shortfall, but DSS says 'HUSKY for immigrants' cannot be stopped without legislative approval.
Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, who supported 'HUSKY for immigrants' said she wasn't "surprised that the Republicans don’t see health care as a human right, but I am surprised that they don’t recognize the long-term savings from covering undocumented immigrants with Medicaid."
Candelora apparently indicated he would support "some level of coverage" for illegals to make sure that hospitals don't get stuck with the bill, just taxpayers.
DSS is also working to make sure that "only undocumented individuals and all kids who have immigration statuses that don’t qualify for Medicaid or CHIP are being funded through this program.”
Here's an idea on how to find some long-term savings on the program.
Welcome Tom Homan to Connecticut with wide open arms so that taxpayers are never again forced to foot the health insurance bill for people who broke the law to enter this country.
