Posted on 51,475 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?

51,475 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  24. vsimpower is a great place to find the latest and greatest Android apps. The vsimpower.com is easy to navigate, and you can search for apps by category or keyword. Plus, new apps are added regularly, so you’ll always have something new to try.

    Reply

  26. Bandar togel online memberikan pelayanan 24 jam nonstop dan ditambah lagi cs berpengalaman yang bisa memberikan arahan tentang seputaran togel online. Togel hongkong bisa anda mainkan bersama bandar togel online, temukan hasil result hk di situs toto hk prize terpercaya 2022

    Reply

  27. What’s up everyone, it’s my first pay a visit at this web site, and post is actually fruitful for me, keep up posting
    TOTONORI

    Reply

  30. Heya i am for the primary time here. I came across this board and I to find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to provide something back and help others such as you aided me. sativa strains

    Reply

  31. “Light Up Christmas Sweater – 500+ Light Up Christmas Sweater for men, women, boys and girls at StirTshirt. Light Up Christmas Sweater from StirTshirt ✓ Unique designs ✓ Large assortment ✓ Easy 30 day return policy ✓ Shop Light Up Christmas Sweater now! Shop high-quality unique Light Up Christmas Sweaterr designed and sold by independent artists. Available in a range of colours and styles for men, women.

    Website: https://stirtshirt.com/collections/light-up-christmas-sweater/

    Address: 2974 Mansion Ave, Claymont, DE 19703, United States
    Phone: 1(856)942-8527
    #stirtshirt, #LightUpChristmasSweater, #christmassweater, #christmas, #tshirt, #hoodie, #poster, #customize, #personalized, #gifts”

    Reply

  32. You there, this is really good post here. Thanks for taking the time to post such valuable information. Quality content is what always gets the visitors coming. big news network

    Reply

  42. I came to this site with the introduction of a friend around me and I was very impressed when I found your writing. I’ll come back often after bookmarking! bitcoincasino

    Reply

  44. 가장 인기있는 것을 시도 바카라 즐기면서 상품을 획득하고 받을 수 있는 기회를 높이는 온라인 게임.

    Reply

  46. If you are looking for a more low-maintenance option for your trees, then there are two options: manual or mechanical. Manual trimming is simple: you just need to cut the palm foliage off at the ground level. This can be done with a hand sickle or other similar tool.
    With mechanical trimming, however, there are special tools to be used. The first step is to unknot any unwanted palm fronds. Then, attach the device and start cutting. Make sure to use a sharp blade and that you have the right attachment on your tool. Last but not least, apply some water repellent so that the fronds don’t stick to your work space.
    While manual trimming can be an effective way of maintaining your palms, it is also time-consuming and labor-intensive. So if you want an efficient and easy solution that doesn’t require much effort, then mechanical trimming may be a better fit for you.
    https://arecapalmtrim.blogspot.com/2022/11/how-to-trim-areca-palm-ultimate-guide.html

    Reply

  47. Daftar situs slot online gacor terbaik dan terpercaya Indonesia
    Kunjungi link alternatif Bonanza138 yang terbaru ; https://lago.tulane.edu
    Dapatkan berbagai hadiah promosi yang luar biasa menarik.

    Reply

  48. “Tacky Christmas Sweater – 500+ Tacky Christmas Sweater for men, women, boys and girls at StirTshirt. Tacky Christmas Sweater from StirTshirt ✓ Unique designs ✓ Large assortment ✓ Easy 30 day return policy ✓ Shop Tacky Christmas Sweater now! Shop high-quality unique Tacky Christmas Sweater designed and sold by independent artists. Available in a range of colours and styles for men, women.

    Website: https://stirtshirt.com/collections/tacky-christmas-sweater/

    Address: 2974 Mansion Ave, Claymont, DE 19703, United States
    Phone: 1(856)942-8527
    #stirtshirt, #christmassweater, #tackyChristmasSweater, #christmas, #tshirt, #hoodie, #poster, #customize, #personalized, #gifts”

    Reply

  50. I am happy to find this post, it’s very useful for us.. Travel to Turkey is easy and the application process of e-visa Turkey is also quite easy and simple. The application form of Turkey evisais easy to fill out for everyone. So what are you waiting for to make a plan with family and friends?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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