Project Details
In 2018, ICH led a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, on Medicare Trust Fund contributions and withdrawals by unauthorized immigrants. The study tabulated annual and total Trust Fund contributions and withdrawals by unauthorized immigrants from 2000 to 2011 using the Current Population Survey and Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys. Study results indicated that from 2000 to 2011, unauthorized immigrants contributed $2.2 to $3.8 billion more than they withdrew annually (a total surplus of $35.1 billion). Had unauthorized immigrants neither contributed to nor withdrawn from the Trust Fund during those 11 years, it would become insolvent in 2029 -1 year earlier than currently predicted. These results indicate that unauthorized immigrants have prolonged the life of the Medicare Trust Fund, and that policies that curtail the influx of unauthorized immigrants may accelerate the Trust Fund’s depletion. This study was featured in high profile newspaper articles throughout the country.
