"Public health is about everyone breathing the same air."
Any serious plan has to answer one emotional question. What about people who are not full members. Tourists. Short term visitors. Illegal aliens.
The SAFECARE Plan draws a hard line on membership. Citizens and lawful residents are full members. Illegal aliens are not. They do not get full national coverage by default.
At the same time, some services must extend beyond that line for the sake of citizens. Hospitals and clinics are required to provide:
- Emergency stabilizing care
- Treatment for serious contagious disease
- Essential maternity and newborn care
This applies to anyone physically present in the country, including illegal aliens and tourists.
Self Defense, not a Gift
This is not a gift. It is self defense. Leaving a case of untreated tuberculosis in a kitchen or on a farm does not save money. It spreads the disease to customers and coworkers. Ignoring a difficult birth until the last minute raises costs and risks for mother and child.
The Plan also recognizes reality. Many illegal aliens work and pay taxes. Studies have shown that they often contribute more to programs like Medicare than they receive in direct benefits, because fear and exclusion keep them away from care.
The Bridge Tier: For those with long term presence and clean records, a limited Bridge tier exists. They can buy into partial coverage at full cost or with subsidies tied to verified work and tax payments. Health data in the Plan is walled off from immigration enforcement, so people are not scared away from vaccination and disease control.
Summary: Bottom Line
The principle is clear. Full membership is for citizens and lawful residents. Basic disease control is for everyone, because germs do not check passport status.