Posted on 22,466 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?

22,466 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  18. Fabulous message, you have signified out some amazing factors, I similarly believe this s a really remarkable web site. I will certainly visit once again for even more high quality material and additionally, advise this site to all. Many thanks.

    사설토토

    Reply

  19. This is such a great resource that you are providing and you give it away for free. I love seeing blog that understand the value of providing a quality resource for free.

    사설토토

    Reply

  21. ทายผลบอลสกอร์รวม ทายสกอร์บอล กับราคาน้ำบอลสูงดีที่สุดในเอเชีย ให้ประสบการณ์ในการเดิมพันที่หลากหลายรูปแบบ สมัครวันนี้รับฟรี 50% เดิมพันสกอร์ฟุตบอล

    Reply

  22. olabahis sitesinin güncel yeni adresine sitemizde yer alan linkler üzerinden hızlı bir şekilde giriş yapabilirsiniz. Ola bahis Güncel Giriş olabahisgir.com

    Reply

  24. This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here keep up the good work Adam Magazine

    Reply

  26. Trusty Binance Accounts

    VCCSeller.com is the perfect way to buy money online. We offer a variety of products and services to help you get started, including an online account and loan options. Buy Verified Binance Accounts at the best prices, so you can focus on what you do best./Our team is available 24/7 to help you get started, and we offer low rates on all of our products. vccseller.com is the best way to get started in buying money online!

    Reply

  28. Find the reciprocal of each of the following fractions. Classify the reciprocals as proper fractions, improper fractions and whole numbers. Here we do math question of all of these.

    Reply

  29. I’m working on two concurrent book projects. The one nearest completion is called Old Media, which examines the post-history – the ‘afterlife’, so to speak – of media such as ventriloquism, cut silhouette, and other media that died off when superseded by other media and have receded from official histories of the visual arts. The other project is on Freud and political authority. we also provide you Unseen Passage For Class 9 here.

    Reply

  33. It is no surprise that the demand for call girls in Lahore is on the rise. In this blog post, we will explore the world of escorts in Lahore
    , the services they offer, and the legal and ethical implications of hiring their services.

    Reply

  36. That is the reason focus on you must specific groundwork well before authoring. Will be possible to more desirable blog post in this manner. wall decor

    Reply

  37. fulbrightscholarship is an updated listing of scholarships for international students, specifically for people from developing countries, people who would like to pursue development-related fields, and people who seek global and national development through further education.

    Reply

  38. That is really attention-grabbing, You’re an overly professional blogger. I’ve joined your rss feed and sit up for in quest of more
    of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks.
    List of Scholarships 2024

    Reply

  39. This post provides valuable insights and practical tips that can make a real difference in your life. Whether you’re looking to learn, be inspired, or simply stay informed, our blog has something for everyone. Fully Funded Scholarships 2024

    Reply

  40. Appreciating the hard work you put into your blog and detailed information you present.
    It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material. Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google
    account. Scholarships 2024-2025

    Reply

  41. Thanks for sharing this information. I really like your blog post very much. You have really shared a informative and interesting blog post with people. Android apk files

    Reply

  42. “Thank you so much for sharing all this wonderful info with the how-to’s!!!! It is so appreciated!!!” “You always have good humor in your posts/blogs: fulbrightscholarship

    Reply

  44. This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. automobilia auctions

    Reply

  47. Thanks for sharing the info, keep up the good work going…. I really enjoyed exploring your site. good resource… home

    Reply

  48. Het optimaliseren van uw website voor zoekmachines is essentieel om meer bezoekers aan te trekken en hoger te scoren in de zoekresultaten. Het gebruik van relevante zoekwoorden, zoals de plaatsnaam Almere, is belangrijk. Bij het selecteren van trefwoorden moet u rekening houden met woorden die mensen waarschijnlijk zullen gebruiken bij het zoeken naar informatie over uw onderwerp. Kies ‘long-tail’ trefwoorden met weinig concurrentie maar een goed zoekvolume. Gebruik de trefwoorden op een natuurlijke manier in de titel, koppen, tekst en metatags van uw artikel. Voorkom overmatig gebruik van zoekwoorden, zoals te veel vermeldingen van Almere als zoekregio, om straffen van zoekmachines te voorkomen. UFABETโปรโมชั่นแทงบอลฟรี

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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