The candidates were not asked if that coverage would be free. Guthrie then asked two candidates — Buttigieg and Biden — to comment. Neither one said they would give "free" health care to undocumented immigrants.
Buttigieg spoke about people buying into a system and said that undocumented immigrants pay certain taxes.
"This is not about a handout," Buttigieg said. "This is an insurance program."
Biden agreed, and spoke about the contributions by undocumented immigrants, including paying taxes.
So the debate Gruters mentioned doesn’t actually support what Gruters claimed. But there is some question about how Medicare for All, a proposal some of the Democratic candidates support, would treat health care costs for undocumented immigrants.
Sanders’ version is a single, national health insurance program that would cover everyone who lives in the United States. There would be no out-of-pocket costs to individuals — no deductibles, no copays or coinsurance — but anyone with a job or self-employed would pay into the system through taxes. In that sense, coverage would not be free for anyone who works. (Some immigrants in the country illegally pay income taxes.)
Sanders’ 2019 Medicare for All bill states that all residents — without specifying legal residents — are entitled to the benefits and that the health and human services secretary shall set criteria to determine residency.
Sanders’ immigration plan says Medicare for All will "provide comprehensive care to everyone in America, regardless of immigration status." It also calls for employers to follow labor laws when employing undocumented immigrants, which suggests that they would pay the payroll tax.
However, some of the other Democrats on the debate stage specifically responded to a New York Times questionnaire with replies that showed the coverage would not be free.
Buttigieg, Bennet and Yang said undocumented immigrants would have the option to buy coverage through a public option, the insurance marketplace, or Medicare for All, respectively.