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?

47,406 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants

  1. MIAMI — Donald Trump came across as resigned and defiant in his first interview since a jury convicted him last week, while Republicans on고양출장샵Sunday lined up to defend him and laid out a strategy to attack the prosecutors involved in the historic trial.

    Reply

  2. You really should indulge in a tournament for example of the most useful blogs on the internet. I will suggest this site! catering

    Reply

  3. Thank you because you have been willing to share information with us. we will always appreciate all you have done here because I know you are very concerned with our. suhu sawer

    Reply

  4. I think this is a really good article. You make this information interesting and engaging. You give readers a lot to think about and I appreciate that kind of writing. merit-based scholarship

    Reply

  5. ular4d juga menawarkan layanan pelanggan yang responsif dan profesional. Tim dukungan pelanggan tersedia 24/7 untuk membantu para pemain dengan pertanyaan atau masalah apa pun yang mereka hadapi selama bermain di situs ini.

    Reply

  6. Really impressed! Everything is very open and very clear clarification of issues. It contains truly facts. Your website is very valuable. Thanks for sharing. yabovip1288

    Reply

  7. For tradesmen, a well-designed website is crucial for attracting and retaining clients. Effective website design should include a clean layout, easy navigation, and mobile responsiveness to ensure a Website design for tradesmen seamless user experience. Showcasing services, client testimonials, and high-quality images of completed projects builds credibility and trust. Features such as contact forms, online booking systems, and clear calls-to-action enhance functionality and user engagement.

    Reply

  8. Bmw4d menawarkan daftar slot online terpercaya dengan taruhan mulai dari 100, 200, hingga 300. Nikmati permainan aman dengan tingkat kemenangan tinggi dan layanan pelanggan terbaik.

    Reply

  9. Really I enjoy your site with effective and useful information. It is included very nice post with a lot of our resources.thanks for share. i enjoy this post. demo pragmatic

    Reply

  10. I think this is an informative post and it is very beneficial and knowledgeable. Therefore, I would like to thank you for the endeavors that you have made in writing this article. All the content is absolutely well-researched. Thanks… slot viral

    Reply

  11. Bmw4d adalah situs slot online terpercaya dengan minimal deposit hanya 10rb. Kami menawarkan pelayanan terbaik dengan berbagai permainan slot yang menarik dan sistem keamanan yang handal.

    Reply

  12. Thanks for the blog loaded with so many information. Stopping by your blog helped me to get what I was looking for. 토토사이트

    Reply

  13. I got too much interesting stuff on your blog. I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the good work. Wall tiles

    Reply

  14. You make so many great points here that I read your article a couple of times. Your views are in accordance with my own for the most part. This is great content for your readers. 바카라사이트

    Reply

  15. Jhonslot adalah platform slot Qris terbaik dan tercepat di Indonesia, menjadi pilihan utama para pemain dengan berbagai permainan seru dan layanan yang unggul.

    Reply

  16. Good composed article. It will be steady to any individual who uses it, including me. Continue doing what you are doing – can’r hold up to peruse more posts. Bilis

    Reply

  17. Wonderful insights. This blog provides readers with something valuable and thought-provoking. Keep posting this type of blog. legitpinoy

    Reply

  18. Wonderful insights. This blog provides readers with something valuable and thought-provoking. Keep posting this type of blog. !legitpinoy

    Reply

  19. Temukan keindahan bunga di toko bunga Semarang kami. Kami menyediakan aneka rangkaian bunga segar untuk segala acara, termasuk buket pernikahan, bunga meja, dan hadiah spesial. Layanan pesan antar yang cepat dan profesional menjamin bunga tiba tepat waktu dengan kualitas terbaik.

    Reply

  20. After study several of the blogs with your website now, i truly much like your strategy for blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site list and will be checking back soon. Pls look at my internet site at the same time and make me aware if you agree. labtoto

    Reply

  21. hey there and thank you for your info – I’ve certainly picked up something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this web site, since I experienced to reload the site many times previous to I could get it to load correctly. I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I’m complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for a lot more of your respective fascinating content. Make sure you update this again very soon.. labtoto

    Reply

  22. Wow what a Great Information about World Day its very nice informative post. thanks for the post. BCR

    Reply

  23. Some times its a pain in the ass to read what people wrote but this site is very user pleasant! labtoto

    Reply

  24. I would also love to add that when you do not currently have an insurance policy or maybe you do not take part in any group insurance, you might well make use of seeking the aid of a health insurance broker. Self-employed or people who have medical conditions generally seek the help of any health insurance broker. Thanks for your blog post. labtoto

    Reply

  25. With personalized recommendations, newtoki
    ensures that every user finds their perfect match.

    Reply

  26. newtoki
    Webtoon offers a diverse range of genres for free, providing an immersive storytelling experience for all enthusiasts.

    Reply

  27. This article really inspired me to keep fighting and never give up. Thank you for sharing your great insights. thank you rajasawit77

    Reply

  28. สวัสดีค่ะ นายท่าน มาสนุกกับเกม pgslot168 สล็อตสุดมันส์กับเว็บเราสิคะ! เรามีเกมสล็อตหลากหลายให้เลือกเล่น ไม่ว่าจะเป็นสล็อตคลาสสิก สล็อตวิดีโอ หรือสล็อตโปรเกรสซีฟ รับรองว่าถูกใจนายท่านแน่นอนค่ะ

    Reply

  29. At newtoki
    , users can indulge in the wonders of webtoons without worrying about subscription fees.

    Reply

  30. Provide the Best call girl in Lahore. Our core focus is to provide neat and beautiful girls to have a great experience with us. We are providing extremely knowledgeable, stunning, attractive, and well trained Call Girls in Lahore that fully satisfy you. Our agency is one of the best Call Girls Lahore and call girl’s agencies in Lahore.

    Reply

  31. Pragmatic4d adalah destinasi virtual yang memukau bagi para pecinta permainan slot, menawarkan beragam permainan slot yang menarik dan mengasyikkan dengan grafis yang memukau dan fitur-fitur inovatif.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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