Posted on 54,530 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?

54,530 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  3. Gamatron’s Best Online Slots, Habanero’s Latesthttps://selot188a.com/

    Reply

  11. Situs Slot Demo Online platform tempat Anda dapat mencoba berbagai jenis permainan slot secara gratis. Ya, Anda tidak perlu mengeluarkan uang sungguhan untuk bermain di situs ini. Ini adalah kesempatan yang sempurna bagi Anda untuk belajar dan memahami cara kerja mesin slot sebelum memasang taruhan dengan uang asli.

    Reply

  12. فولورز عرب شراء متابعين انستقرام عرب حقيقيين 100% من جميع الدول العربية مع خبرة 5 سنوات من العمل المستمر في تقديم افضل الخدمات لجميع منصات التواصل الأجتماعي! شراء متابعين

    Reply

  13. Situs Slot Balaksix Online dan rasakan sensasi perjudian online yang tak terlupakan. Situs Slot Balaksix Online juga menawarkan layanan pelanggan yang luar biasa. Tim dukungan pelanggan mereka selalu siap membantu Anda dengan setiap pertanyaan atau masalah yang Anda miliki saat bermain di situs ini.

    Reply

  15. JET178 merupakan situs slot gacor online terpercaya yang menyediakan tempat untuk para pemain slot gacor online Indonesia bermain judi online dengan berbagai fasilitas termewah dan menguntungkan. Setiap member akan mendapatkan bonus berlimpah setiap harinya baik itu member baru maupun member setia JET178. situs gacor

    Reply

  17. You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart. kèo nhà cái trực tiếp

    Reply

  18. “The games pushes you to think outside the box, encouraging creative word choices and deduction skills to crack the code.”

    Reply

  19. “Watching elk ram their natural habitat brings a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of the natural world.”

    Reply

  20. Independent our area escorts girls can offer you the most amazing pleasure that you have ever experienced.escorts lahore Their erotic teasing will and they can fulfil all of ..

    Reply

  21. Master online search for call girls in Karachi and fulfill your sexual fantasies.escort service in karachi We have a 5 star rated service that helps our clients to get high class …

    Reply

  22. Our specialty is that all our call girls provide the best IslamabadVIP Escort Service.islamabad escort service They have been trained by the expert Islamabadcall girls and know exactly how …

    Reply

  23. Judi Online Situs Topbandar yang sudah menjadi fenomena yang sangat populer di Indonesia. Banyak orang yang tertarik untuk mencoba peruntungan mereka di Situs Topbandar Judi Online ini. Dengan adanya Situs Topbandar Judi Online ini, Anda bisa menikmati berbagai jenis permainan judi secara online dengan nyaman dan aman.

    Reply

  24. Welcome to the dazzling city of Mumbai, where the allure of escorts adds a touch of luxury and elegance to the vibrant metropolis. In this blog post, we embark on an enchanting journey through the diverse and glamorous world of Mumbai escorts. From the captivating call girls to the enchanting Russian escorts, the city offers a plethora of options for those seeking companionship and pleasure.

    https://ishikaamumbai.com/

    Reply

  26. Master online search for call girls in Karachi and fulfill your sexual fantasies. escorts serviceWe have a 5 star rated service that helps our clients to get high class …

    Reply

  28. Situs Judi Online Jackpot86 Terpercaya memberikan keuntungan besar untuk setiap pengunjung yang bermain di situs ini. Situs Jackpot86 adalah salah satu situs judi online terpopuler di Indonesia. Dengan berbagai jenis permainan yang tersedia, situs ini menjanjikan pengalaman bermain yang memuaskan dan menghibur.

    Reply

  37. 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. quantum ai australia

    Reply

  40. Hello ! I am the one who writes posts on these topics sportstotomen I would like to write an article based on your article. When can I ask for a review?

    스포츠토토365

    Reply

  43. Keep up the good work , I read few blog posts on this website and I believe that your weblog is rattling interesting.

    토토사이트

    Reply

  50. Say goodbye to the hassle of physical tickets as KhelRaja brings the convenience of playing your favorite lottery games. It's a secure and user-friendly platform that prioritizes your gaming excitement and safety. Join KhelRaja today to immerse yourself in a world of lottery games online, where entertainment meets the chance to win big!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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