Posted on 46,366 Comments on Access to Healthcare for Immigrants

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?

46,366 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  2. I am continually amazed by the amount of information available on this subject. What you presented was well researched and well worded in order to get your stand on this across to all your readers. auto glass marketing

    Reply

  4. I really appreciate the kind of topics you post here. Thanks for sharing us a great information that is actually helpful. Good day! ebook gratuit

    Reply

  7. Thank you for such a well written article. It’s full of insightful information and entertaining descriptions. Your point of view is the best among many. 中文補習

    Reply

  8. adalah situs tergacor dan terpopuler di Indonesia dengan tingkat RTP tetrtinggi. Okeplay777 Platform situs slot online yang menyediakan macam-macam game gacor dan dapat melipat gandakan uang anda. Hanya dengan modal dikit anda dapat menghasilkan cuan berbukit. Ayo segera daftarkan akunmu dan kunjungi informasi menarik dan seru lainnya.

    Reply

  9. I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to undertand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not tht good. I also found your posts very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he ejoyed it as well! 카지노놀이터

    Reply

  11. Slot Terpercaya Hari Ini ialah sebuah situs slot online dengan tawarkan opsi permainan terlengkap di tahun 2023 ini, secara beragam jenis permainan p0ker online, judi bola online, situs c4sino online, dan tembak ikan. LELE247 situs judi terpercaya banyak disukai oleh warga Indonesia terutama anda yang bermain dengan kami di link slot gacor.

    Reply

  13. Sebagai situs Kudabet terbaik kami juga sudah menyiapkan kalian beberapa slot game yang bisa kalian mainkan di sini yaitu Slot pragmaticplay, Micro Gaming,PG Soft, RTG Slot, Habanero Dan Masih Banyak Lagi. Kalian bisa bebas pilih game apa yang menurut kalian bisa menguntungkan saat kalian bermain slot game di situs kami ini.

    Reply

  15. Agen Slot Online Jayaspin memberikan pelayanan terbaik kepada semua pemain sehingga semua pemain bisa bermain dengan sangat nyaman. Jayaspin berkomitmen untuk memberikan semua pemainnya pengalaman bermain yang baru,.

    Reply

  20. Excellent article ! We are linking to this particularly great content on our website.

    Keep up the great writing. 토토

    Reply

  21. Opting for an accounting course in Dubai was a strategic move for my career. The city’s dynamic financial landscape and top-notch education make it the perfect choice for aspiring accountants. Highly recommend these courses for anyone looking to thrive in the heart of the financial hub

    Reply

  26. Embarking on an accounting course has been a pivotal step for my career. The comprehensive curriculum and expert guidance have deepened my financial acumen. Highly recommend these accounting courses for anyone aiming to excel in the world of finance

    Reply

  28. The page is built with Page Builder Sandwich! Give it a try for free! Page Builder sandwich is a very light weight and non-intrusive WordPress page builder. That is easy to use & wont break your website. It comes free with several templates for easy and fast page construction too. Your installation also includes the […] สล็อตออนไลน์

    Reply

  31. The page is built with Page Builder Sandwich! Give it a try for free! Page Builder sandwich is a very light weight and non-intrusive WordPress page builder. That is easy to use & wont break your website. It comes free with several templates for easy and fast page construction too. Your installation also includes the [… pgslot

    Reply

  37. There are plenty of dissertation web pages internet as you’re get hold of of course revealed in the web-site. forex robot

    Reply

  38. There are plenty of dissertation web sites over the internet while you obtain not surprisingly detailed in the webpage. mt5

    Reply

  48. I really appreciate this wonderful post that you have provided for us. I assure this would be beneficial for most of the people. metatrader

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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