Posted on 54,485 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?

54,485 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  1. With mobile users being constantly bombarded by new apps, it’s an uphill battle to rise above the noise. Appboostability has a wide experience in both Google Play and the Apple App Store. Being familiar with their nuances enables our team to quickly improve your discoverability and on-page conversion rate by implementing a set of app store optimization techniques.

    Reply

  4. ALEXISTOGEL agen slot online gacor memberikan anda berbagai pilihan permainan dari berbagai provider slot terkemuka untuk perbesar peluang menang dipadu dengan pilihan promo fantastis. alexistogel hongkong

    Reply

  5. ALEXISTOGEL Situs Toto Sydney Pasti Bayar Guarantee For The Best Platform Gaming in The World, Join and Get Promo Terbaik kami. alexistogel toto

    Reply

  6. ALEXISTOGEL Link Alternatif Bandar Togel Online dengan berbagai fitur terbaik serta exclusive yang memudahkan seluruh player dalam bermain aman dan nyaman. bandar alexistogel

    Reply

  7. ALEXISTOGEL Link Alternatif Bandar Togel Online dengan berbagai fitur terbaik serta exclusive yang memudahkan seluruh player dalam bermain aman dan nyaman. link alexistogel

    Reply

  8. Alexistogel yang sudah lebih dari 7 tahun menjadi situs dengan pasaran togel paling lengkap dan mode permainan terbaik dimana kenyamanan bermain player adalah kunci utama. bandar alexistogel

    Reply

  9. Alexistogel yang sudah lebih dari 7 tahun menjadi situs dengan pasaran togel paling lengkap dan mode permainan terbaik dimana kenyamanan bermain player adalah kunci utama. link alexistogel

    Reply

  12. Greetings! This website is incredibly impressive! I’ll bookmark your blog and subscribe to the feeds. Finding a wealth of valuable information in this post is truly gratifying. We should definitely brainstorm additional strategies in this regard. Thanks for sharing. Egyptian visa to Turkey,
    Egyptian nationals can obtain a single-entry Turkish visa, valid for 180 days with a 30-day maximum stay, suitable for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

    Reply

  13. I realise this is off topic but while your site looks pleasant, it would be far better if you’ll be able to use lighter colors too in the design. This will encourage a lot more readers come to check it out more often! giai ma keo nha cai

    Reply

  17. There are a couple of electronic sources that can be used to book a Call girls in lahore
    . These sources integrate escort locales, classifieds objections, and virtual diversion stages like Facebook and Instagram.

    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. Valuation Bangor

    Reply

  20. Cerpen realisme sosial seringkali mengangkat isu-isu sosial dalam masyarakat. Meskipun pendek, contoh cerpen singkat ini mampu memberikan pemahaman mendalam tentang realitas sekitar

    Reply

  28. It was purely by chance that I found your website while searching for something else on Yahoo. Now that I’m here, I’d like to extend my thanks for your marvelous post and engaging blog. I’m also a fan of the theme and design. Although I can’t explore it fully at the moment, I’ve saved it and added your RSS feeds. I’ll certainly return to read more when I have the time. Keep up the great job! Top Turkish Beach Destinations: Where to Find the Best Coastal Retreats , You can read more info via our website.

    Reply

  29. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also sbobet

    Reply

  31. I am typically to blogging and i genuinely appreciate your content. The content has really peaks my interest. I will bookmark your site and maintain checking for new data.

    The Regal Beagle Dallas, Ga

    Reply

  32. Your article has answered the question I was wondering about! I would like to write a thesis on this subject, but I would like you to give your opinion once
    룸알바

    Reply

  33. I am truly getting a charge out of perusing your elegantly composed articles. It would seem that you spend a considerable measure of exertion and time on your blog.

    헤라카지노주소

    Reply

  34. You certainly put a whole new spin for a topic thats been written about for years. Great stuff, just fantastic! The web site is lovingly serviced and saved as much as date. So it should be, thanks for sharing this with us.
    랭크카지노도메인

    Reply

  36. Nearly three in four establishments in Singapore gave wage increases as business activities picked up last year. 토토모음

    Reply

  37. Good post and a nice summation of the problem. My only problem with the analysis is given that much of the population joined the chorus of deregulatory mythology, given vested interest is inclined toward perpetuation of the current system and given a lack of a popular cheerleader for your arguments,
    마카오카지노주소

    Reply

  39. I was searching over search engines and found your blog site. Well i like your high quality blog site design plus your posting abilities. Keep doing it. I am amazed by the way you have explained things in this article.
    헤라카지노도메인

    Reply

  42. https://keobong.bio/
    Tỷ lệ kèo bóng nhà cái uy tín nhất 2023 – Tỷ lệ kèo nhà cái hôm nay
    Trực tiếp bóng đá, tỷ lệ kèo bóng đá hôm nay, soi kèo bóng đá trực tuyến từ các nhà cái uy tín hàng đầu châu á như: nhà cái i9bet, m88, w88 …
    Tỷ lệ bóng đá hôm nay chính xác nhất, nhận định kèo nhà cái uy tín, kèo bóng đá trực tuyến nhanh nhất chính xác nhất. xem bóng đá trực tuyến miễn phí kèo bóng hôm nay, Báo Bóng đá, kết quả, lịch thi đấu, video bàn thắng, nhận định, tỷ lệ kèo, tỷ lệ kèo nhà cái, tỷ lệ cược bóng đá.

    Reply

  43. Judi Online Situs Topbandar ini menawarkan bonus dan promosi menarik bagi para pemainnya. Mulai dari bonus selamat datang, bonus deposit, hingga program loyalitas, mereka memberikan berbagai insentif untuk membuat pengalaman bermainmu semakin menyenangkan.

    Reply

  46. One of the most important Surahs of the Quran is Surah Muzammil, which holds tremendous significance for Muslims and is recited by them for various benefits.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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