Contrary to some perceptions that immigrants drain money from government programs, when it comes to Medicare, immigrants are in fact contributing billions of dollars more than they use, according to a Health Affairs study set to appear in the June issue.
From 2002 to 2009, immigrants put approximately $115.6 billion more into the Medicare Trust Fund than they took out, the authors found—which essentially means they are footing much of the bill for American-born beneficiaries.
"Immigrants generate a surplus for Medicare primarily because so many of them are working age adults. That group has a high labor-force participation rate—a combination that generates large payroll tax payments," according to the authors of the study. "[E]conomic concerns—including the worry that immigrants are driving up US health care costs—have often dominated the debate over immigration. Our data offer a new perspective on these economic concerns."