New data from Florida’s health agency reveals that illegal immigrants cost the state’s healthcare system nearly $660 million in 2024. Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration has implemented measures to track and curb these expenses, but the financial strain remains significant.
Key Facts:
- Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration reported $660 million spent on healthcare for illegal immigrants in 2024.
- Medicaid covered $76.6 million in emergency room visits for undocumented patients.
- Miami-Dade County alone spent $282 million, the highest in the state.
- A new law requires hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status, but many refuse to answer.
- The DeSantis administration aims to reduce taxpayer-funded healthcare for those in the country illegally.
The Rest of The Story:
Florida’s newly updated Hospital Patient Immigration Status Dashboard tracks the financial toll of illegal immigration on the state’s healthcare system.
According to the data, illegal immigrants accounted for 67,700 emergency room visits, contributing to nearly $660 million in taxpayer-funded costs.
Miami-Dade County, the state’s most populous, bore the largest financial burden at $282 million, followed by Broward and Hillsborough counties.
In response, Governor DeSantis pushed for a law requiring hospitals accepting Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status.
While patients aren’t required to answer, the data suggests a 54% decline in Medicaid billing for undocumented immigrants since its implementation.
However, many hospitals report that a large share of patients simply refuse to disclose their status, raising concerns about the law’s effectiveness.
🚨New report from @GovRonDeSantis and @AHCA_FL shows the financial burden for health care JUST IN FLORIDA for illegals in 2024:
The total cost of care provided to illegals: $𝟔𝟔𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧
Federally required Medicaid payments to hospitals for emergency care of illegals:… pic.twitter.com/5OCIX4REjt
— Jenna Ellis 🐊 (@realJennaEllis) March 11, 2025
Commentary:
This report exposes the immense financial burden illegal immigration places on state resources, with Florida taxpayers footing a massive bill for medical care.
Even with efforts to limit spending, hospitals remain overwhelmed, and many illegal immigrants still receive costly emergency treatment without contributing to the system.
The fact that Miami-Dade alone spent nearly $300 million illustrates the scale of the crisis.
These are resources that could have been used for lawful residents, improving care for those who pay into the system.
Instead, taxpayers are left subsidizing healthcare for individuals who entered the country illegally.
The previous administration’s open-border policies fueled this crisis, flooding states like Florida with individuals who lack legal standing but still demand public services.
While DeSantis’ efforts to enforce accountability are a step in the right direction, the only true solution is mass deportation.
Until illegal immigrants are removed from the system, American citizens will continue to pay the price.
If hospitals are required to report illegal patients, the incentive to abuse the system will decline.
The financial strain will persist unless federal and state authorities act decisively to remove those who shouldn’t be here in the first place.
The Bottom Line:
Florida’s $660 million in healthcare costs for illegal immigrants highlights the economic consequences of open-border policies.
While Governor DeSantis has implemented measures to track and reduce spending, illegal immigration continues to burden taxpayers.
Without mass deportations and stricter enforcement, these costs will only grow, forcing Americans to pay for a crisis they did not create.
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