VA resources have been used to process claims for medical care of illegal immigrants since 2020, says a DHS report.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) predicts the agency’s case backlog will peak at 400,000 in 2024. So, a report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said VA resources have been used to process claims for medical care of illegal immigrants since 2020, is causing backlash from several legislators and veterans’ agencies.
The DHS report gives a detailed view of how U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are working with the VA to contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs Financial Services Center to process medical claims reimbursements for immigrants who have not qualified for veterans benefits.
In fiscal year 2022 alone, the VA processed health care claims for illegal immigrants totaling more than $63.6 million in medical services, the ICE report stated. That number is expected to rise by the end of fiscal year 2023, the report explains, because providers have one year after the date of service to submit claims.
“As a Marine, I believe any dollar taken away from a veteran is a promise broken to those who served,” said Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), who has introduced legislation to block VA funds from being used to aid illegal immigrants. “Joe Biden’s failed border policies have created a humanitarian and national security crisis. Now it appears he’s taking resources away from our veterans to facilitate healthcare for illegal migrants,” he said in a statement.
In an October report, the VA reported hundreds of thousands of backlogged cases. A backlogged case is categorized as one that has been pending for more than 125 days, an increase of more than a third expected in 2024.
In its end-of-year 2023 benefits claims update, the VA pointed to the PACT Act as inspiring veterans this year to apply for benefits at a record rate, over 39 percent more than the previous record of applications. The Act, passed in 2022, expanded care and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances for those eligible.
By Mark Gilman
