Posted on 22,516 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?

22,516 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  26. HAIGO revolutionizes the way businesses communicate and collaborate by providing a sophisticated platform for streamlined interactions. From virtual HAIGO

    Reply

  27. HAIGO’s prowess lies in its ability to engage in natural, fluid conversations. Whether it’s a casual chat or a complex discussion, HAIGO excels in maintaining HAIGO

    Reply

  30. Excellent post. I was always checking this blog, and I’m impressed! Extremely useful info specially the last part, I care for such information a lot. I was exploring this particular info for a long time. Thanks to this blog my exploration has ended. nextbet sports

    Reply

  31. Brilliant dispatch! My business is really having apt to in excess of that facts, is really neighborly the close friend. Moreover excellent blog site in this article involving the majority of the high-priced facts people attain. Pre-book in the effective practice your are performing in this article. https://annaclaire.net/new-york-escort

    Reply

  34. You possess lifted an essential offspring..Blesss for using..I would want to study better latest transactions from this blog..preserve posting. seo service UK

    Reply

  35. Great insights on Tumgir Malware! The Wall Chronicles always delivers quality content. By the way, have you considered enhancing your space with Pebbles Wall Stickers? They’re a fantastic way to add a touch of creativity to any room

    Reply

  36. Outils Numériques reviews Taskade, an innovative project management tool with AI integration, offering a unique blend of productivity and collaboration features for efficient workflow optimization. Workflow Optimization

    Reply

  44. Dive into a sensory symphony at Big Vape Bar, where clouds swirl with enchanting flavors. Experience the powerful allure of the RandM Tornado 9000 and discover a vaping sanctuary like no other.

    Reply

  45. Personally, I have found that to remain probably the most fascinating topics when it draws a parallel to. You may find two to three new levels inside L . a . Weight loss and any one someone is incredibly important. Initial stage may be real melting away rrn the body. lose weight
    black owned winery

    Reply

  46. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.
    black owned winery

    Reply

  49. Promethei envisions building an infinitely scalable distributed high-performance computing network that will become the cornerstone of the Artificial Intelligence and metaverse era. This comprehensive project comprises a high-performance computing network, layer one blockchain to be developed based on the Binance Smart Chain architecture protocol , and a global GPU computing system designed native, cognitive and smart computing., layer one blockchain to be developed based on the Binance Smart Chain protocol , and a global GPU computing system cryptocurrency

    Reply

  50. Impressive web site, Distinguished feedback that I can tackle. I am moving forward and may apply to my current job as a pet sitter, which is very enjoyable, but I need to additional expand. Regards
    new york city florists

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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