Florida taxpayers are footing an astronomical $660 million bill for hospital care provided to illegal immigrants. This financial burden has skyrocketed within just one year, raising serious questions about the sustainability of healthcare funding in the Sunshine State. It’s horrible!
At a glance:
• Florida taxpayers covered nearly $660 million in unpaid hospital costs for illegal immigrants last year, up from $566 million in 2023
• The data comes from Florida’s “Hospital Patient Immigration Status Report” created by the Agency for Health Care Administration
• Miami-Dade County reported the highest losses at $282.2 million, followed by Broward County ($77 million) and Hillsborough County ($64.4 million)
• The $660 million figure is based on 94,000 patients who self-identified as undocumented, though 840,000 others did not disclose their status
• Senate Bill 1718 requires Florida hospitals accepting Medicaid to ask patients about their immigration status, though answering remains optional
Soaring Costs to Florida Taxpayers
A shocking new report reveals that Florida taxpayers shouldered a staggering $659.9 million in hospital costs for illegal immigrants in 2024. This represents a concerning increase from the $566 million reported in 2023, demonstrating the growing financial strain on the state’s healthcare system.
The “Hospital Patient Immigration Status Report” published by Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) highlights these escalating costs. The agency has explicitly stated its commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars from being misused on individuals not lawfully present in the United States.
Florida’s Senate Bill 1718, implemented in 2023, requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to inquire about patients’ immigration status. The law mandates the AHCA to publish annual reports detailing healthcare costs associated with illegal aliens, creating unprecedented transparency about this financial burden.
County-Level Impact Reveals Troubling Patterns
The financial impact varies dramatically across Florida counties, with Miami-Dade bearing the heaviest burden at $282.2 million in losses. Broward County reported $77 million in unpaid bills, while Hillsborough County faced $64.4 million in costs related to healthcare for illegal immigrants.
In Palm Beach County alone, undocumented migrants reportedly cost hospitals $40 million, based on approximately 7,000 self-identified patients. St. Mary’s Medical Center in the same county treated 1,500 self-identified undocumented patients, with an additional 15,000 individuals declining to answer the immigration status question.
The Hospital Patient Immigration Status Dashboard created by the AHCA provides detailed county-level data online for public review. Miami-Dade, Lee, and Manatee counties currently show the highest percentage of patients identifying themselves as illegal aliens in the state.
Understated Numbers and Systemic Challenges
Even worse, the actual financial impact may be significantly higher than reported, as answering questions about immigration status remains optional for patients. Records show that 840,000 individuals did not disclose their status when receiving medical care, suggesting the $660 million figure could represent just a fraction of the true cost.
Illegal aliens accounted for at least 67,700 emergency room visits across Florida, though healthcare experts believe the actual number is substantially higher. At Tampa General Hospital Spring Hill, a remarkable 63.4% of emergency room patients chose not to disclose their citizenship status, highlighting how widespread non-disclosure has become.
Why aren’t Democrats outraged by this? Surely nobody thinks this is normal or fair?
