NJ to discontinue health plan for low-income immigrants

A three-judge panel today delivered its judgment which turned down to re-register over 12,000 cases into the state Family Care program. The litigants are most likely to appeal at the Supreme Court, confirms reports.

Lawsuit updates on the state health plan suggests that the Court of Appeals has called off charges against legislative assembly of having trespassed its authority.

The accusations came after the state assembly permitted the Department of Human Services to end a health insurance program for thousands of low income foreign residents, last year.

Continuing state budget deficiency compelled the policy makers in 2010 to exclude free and low-cost health care facilities to low income immigrants.

Had the legislative assembly lost the appeal, it would have to endow a considerable amount into the state health plan for foreign residents belonging to the low income group.

The litigation is likely to move to the Supreme Court
Center for Social Justice at the Seton Hall University’s School of Law is fighting the lawsuit in aid of the litigation of six foreign residents who suffered the loss of health plans in the wake of the new policy.

In the words of Peter Aseltine, the spokesman for the office of the attorney general, "Today’s decision recognizes the challenges inherent in allocating scarce fiscal resources and permits the state to continue operating the FamilyCare program in a manner assuring that payments for medical assistance do not exceed amounts appropriated by the Legislature,"

However, Jenny-Brooke Condon, an assistant professor at the Center for Social Justice said that the ruling of the Court of Appeals does not necessarily finalize the faith of the litigation. The centre is now planning to take the case to the Supreme Court.

Expressing her disappointment over immigrant-based discrimination, Brooke Condon said the prejudice in the allocation of public resources to the diligent lawful immigrants is major social injustice.

About Family Health Care Coverage Act
The state legislature in 2005 passed the Family Health Care Coverage Act to cover children, expectant women and parents from lower income groups.

The lawmakers further widened the scope of the policy to cover legal permanent residents not entitled to federal Medicaid.

But, owing to budget deficiency the state Department of Human Services ceased the health plan for lawful foreign residents.