Readers React: Californians will come around on healthcare for immigrants

To the editor: While your article highlights the divide among Californians on providing healthcare benefits to people in the country illegally, it leaves out some important points that give us promise. (“California voters sharply disagree on low-cost healthcare for immigrants,” Sept. 15)

Just last month, a Field poll found an increasing number support expanding affordable healthcare to undocumented Californians: 58%, up from 51% polled last year. California’s new budget also allocates millions of dollars for expanded healthcare services for all children, regardless of immigration status.

Perhaps the USC Dornsife/Times Poll would find more supporters if people knew that undocumented immigrants contributed more than $3 billion in taxes in 2012. In other words, undocumented Californians are paying into the very government services they’re blocked from. That’s just not justifiable or acceptable.

Healthcare is a basic human right, and we have reason to believe it won’t be long before all Californians agree.

Robert K. Ross, MD, Los Angeles

The writer is chief executive of the California Endowment.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook