Access to Healthcare for Immigrants

Access to healthcare can be determined by several factors (i.e. geographical location, income, insurance)–being an immigrant, especially a recent immigrant to the U.S., is one of these factors. In Albany, NY, the immigrant population has grown over the past few years and currently, 13.2% of the population consists of individuals that were not born in the U.S. (1). Coming to a new country presents many unique challenges, but access to healthcare is one that can prevent individuals from adjusting well and living a safe and healthy lifestyle.

Health Insurance

Due to their lack of citizenship after first moving to the U.S., health insurance options can be limited for immigrants, especially for undocumented immigrants (2). This limits access to many providers who only accept patients with insurance, and while undocumented immigrants can sometimes receive care from community health centers, this care is often only basic primary care or to be used in emergencies (2).

In New York state, all children can receive the Child Health Plus plan, regardless of their immigration status. This plan is comprehensive and includes preventative care, well-child visits, and emergency services (3). Additionally, pregnant women can receive Medicaid regardless of immigration status and some documented immigrants may qualify for the Essential Plan soon after they move to NY (2). However, if an individual does not fit into these categories, the only services that an undocumented immigrant may receive are emergency services (2). While this is beneficial, it leaves out the preventative care and services that can treat symptoms before they worsen beyond control.

Translation Services & Health Literacy

Many immigrant families, especially when they first immigrate to the U.S., are considered to have low English proficiency (LEP). This makes communication in healthcare settings a challenge and can be a barrier to receiving quality care, as the patient and provider cannot have a direct, fluid conversation. Some health care settings in New York have put up this ‘Language Identification Tool Poster’ that allows patients to point to their language, so that appropriate translation services may be provided.  A portion of the poster is shown below, with a link to the full poster here:

While resources such as this poster can help, patients and providers would still not be able to speak directly to each other, and would only be able to communicate through a translator.

Additionally, understanding health insurance options can also be difficult when there is a language barrier, as there are different requirements for each plan. A search engine can be found here for in-person help. This search engine consists of a directory of in-person helpers that can assist individuals in navigating the health system and health insurance plans specifically. While only eight languages are supported, including English, this service can benefit some individuals in understanding how to receive health services for themselves and their families.

COVID-19

With the current pandemic, language barriers present a unique challenge in being able to transmit public health information clearly to the general population. As immigrants make up a large portion of the population, it is essential that they understand basic information about the virus and are able to practice appropriate measures to limit the spread of the virus. Valleywise Health Medical Center in Arizona has made a series of videos available on Youtube that describe what COVID-19 is and what to do if you are sick. These videos have been made available in 12 languages, one of which can be played below.

These videos can be incredibly helpful for individuals that may not understand what is happening in their local communities as a result the virus, but coming across these videos may not be common for many immigrants, as they require some searching. It would therefore be helpful for similar resources and information to be sent to or made available to local communities, either in the style of videos or in pamphlet form.

While many resources exist to help immigrants navigate the healthcare system and obtain information about resources, these resources are not always used or made readily available to immigrant families. Many require searching and prior knowledge about websites and organizations that usually provide public health, insurance, and language services. In the future, it would be important to ensure that immigrants are aware of the resources that exist so that they can have access to the healthcare that they might need. What are some ways this could be done?

22,557 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants

  1. I have recently started a site, the information you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.

    먹튀검증

    Reply

  2. But no matter how much money you have, there are some risks to being a part of this kind of culture. If you want to find a pretty escort service Islamabad and don’t know where to look, try the Escort Agency in Islamabad listed above. They are well-known in the city and have many customers.

    Reply

  3. I like to recommend every subject material. It is often excellent to clear up you are going to demonstrate around thoughts out of mid but also image quality making use of this priceless subject material is rather easily accepted. rtp live

    Reply

  4. Wonderful blog post. This is absolute magic from you! I have never seen a more wonderful post than this one. You’ve really made my day today with this. I hope you keep this up!
    Kitchen Set For home

    Reply

  5. Wonderful blog post. This is absolute magic from you! I have never seen a more wonderful post than this one. You’ve really made my day today with this. I hope you keep this up! Kitchen Set For home

    Reply

  6. Can you ufa365 info describe the sense of luxury and sophistication that the visually stunning elements of direct web slots evoke?

    Reply

  7. Join https://tga168.vip/ the excitement and let the visually stunning graphics of our direct web slots take your gaming experience to new heights.

    Reply

  8. Buy Gmail Accounts with a proven track record of successful delivery rates. Get high-quality, reliable accounts backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

    Reply

  9. The weight of student debt is a pressing issue that can have dire consequences on students’ studies, possibly leading to dropouts. To mitigate these challenges, students must take charge of their financial situation promptly. Adopting sound budgeting plans, exploring opportunities for additional earnings, or seeking assistance from a reputable debt relief company like CuraDebt can provide much-needed relief. For professional consultation and support in handling student debt, students can refer to CuraDebt’s website at https://www.curadebt.com.

    Reply

  10. MagicCitySavior: Watching this superhero in action is like witnessing pure magic! Miami’s skyline becomes their canvas, and the villains don’t stand a chance. miami superhero reviews

    Reply

  11. Anda bisa bermain kapan saja dan di mana saja, tanpa perlu khawatir tentang jadwal tutup dan buka kasino. Gabunglah dengan Demo Tanpa Deposit dan rasakan sendiri keseruan dan keuntungan bermain slot online di sini!

    Reply

  12. Dengan adanya fitur-fitur menarik seperti free spin, bonus game, dan jackpot yang menggiurkan, membuat game ini semakin diminati oleh banyak orang. Jadi, jangan ragu lagi untuk mencoba keberuntungan Anda dengan bermain Slot Gacor Maxwin pragmatic play. Siapa tahu, kali ini adalah giliran Anda untuk dapat memenangkan hadiah besar!

    Reply

  13. Saat ini, salah satu situs slot yang sedang populer adalah Slot Maxwin Gacor. Dengan tawaran hadiah hingga 5000 kali lipat dari taruhan awal, tidak heran jika banyak orang yang memburu keberuntungan mereka di situs ini.

    Reply

  14. Permainan game online bersama grafis yang menarik, misteri, dan paduan beruntun. Yang pastinya mengimbuhkan pengalaman nyata permainan yang menantang, game Judi Online Terpercaya ini akan menyebabkan Anda makin lama tertarik dengan konsep pengalaman bermain game seru dan menguntungkan.

    Reply

  15. Mari bermain Game Slot Gacor online terlengkap dan rasakan sensasi kemenangan yang tak terkalahkan. Dalam permainan ini, Anda akan menemukan berbagai jenis game yang menarik dan bisa membuat Anda kagum.

    Reply

  16. Book them online or over the phone, and tell us when and where you want to meet the prettiest women in Lahore. We’d be happy to help and even develop new ideas to make your time with the escort something you’ll remember for years. You can hang out with the hottest girls in any way you want because you always have access to a wide range of young women. Famous tiktoker called Girl in Lahore Escort service for politicians In Lahore Lesbian ladies in Lahore, lesbian sex on Pornhub xhamster, how do lesbians have sex with other lesbians?

    https://lahoremodels.club/

    Reply

  17. “Qh88 được biết đến là cổng game với đa dạng thể loại cược tại thị trường Việt Nam. Nhà cái Qh88 ra mắt với nhiều khuyến mãi hấp dẫn.
    Truy cập ngay trang chủ cổng game Qh88.expert để tham gia cá cược ngay hôm nay!
    Thông tin liên hệ
    Điện thoại: 0888648712
    Địa chỉ: 181 Trần Phú, P. Văn Quán, Hà Đông, Hà Nội, Việt Nam
    Website: https://qh88.expert/
    #qh88 #qh88expert #qh88_expert #nhacaiqh88″

    Reply

  18. G2GBET is an online slot platform that offers a wide array of slot games for players to enjoy. To access these exciting slot games and make the most of your gaming experience, you need to learn how to log in to the G2GBET website slots. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the login process and help you get started with the thrilling world of online slot gaming. g2g เว็บตรง

    Reply

  19. Aw, it was a very good post. In concept I have to put in place writing similar to this additionally – taking time and actual effort to create a good article… but so what can I say… I procrastinate alot by no indicates often get something completed. katmoviehd

    Reply

  20. The accumulated onto your blog site despite the fact paying off acceptance just many tid little submits. Gratifying strategy for honest, I will be bookmarking before you start acquire merchandise realization spgs right in place. gumus kamplektler

    Reply

  21. Speedily this specific web page could without doubt become popular involving most writing a blog along with site-building persons, automobile thoughtful blogposts or possibly testimonials. mp3juice

    Reply

  22. When I open my eyes in the morning, I think of your writing. I think I’m going to go crazy. I just think of your writing, but it’s such a good writing. Thank you always레플리카신발

    Reply

  23. Game Slot video 5-gulungan modern dengan banyak fitur bonus, dan jackpot progresif yang mampu menambahkan banyak memenangkan hadiah di situs game online terpercaya ini. menjadi jutawan instan kalau Anda join dan bermain di website Slot Online Terbaik game online terbesar ini untuk menjadi jutawan pemenang dari game online yang kembali ramai dan enteng di menangkan ini! Jadi menanti apa lagi? Daftar hari ini dan mengfungsikan bonus menarik, promosi, dan pilihan permainan slot kami yang tidak tersedia duanya – seutuhnya dijamin dapat membawa dampak sensasi permainan Anda selanjutnya jadi keliru satu yang tak terlupakan!

    Reply

  24. Ada juga putaran bonus yang memberikan kesempatan untuk memenangkan hadiah tambahan. Tentu saja, tujuan akhir dari bermain game adalah untuk menang – baik itu dalam bentuk kemenangan kecil atau jackpot besar x500 Pragmatic Play.

    Reply

  25. keberuntungan Anda juga dapat membantu Anda memenangkan hadiah jackpot yang besar. Jadi, jika Anda mencari cara untuk menghabiskan waktu yang menyenangkan dan berpotensi mendapatkan uang tambahan, bermain di Slot Gacor Gampang Maxwin adalah pilihan yang tepat untuk Anda!

    Reply

  26. slot depo 5k
    This is cool post and i enjoy to read this post. your blog is fantastic and you have good staff in your blog. nice sharing keep it up.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *