Posted on 46,609 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?

46,609 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  1. sobat777
    Kamu pecinta slot online tenang saja ada sobat777 yang pastinya menjamin kemenangan untuk pemainnya

    Reply

  11. uge808 Situs online memiliki tim pemrosesan transaksi deposit dan penarikan yang berpengalaman

    Reply

  17. تكمل الطاولات الأثاث الداخلي، ويقدم lmsah.sa مجموعة رائعة من الطاولات المودرن التي تناسب احتياجاتك. سواء كانت لطاولات القهوة أو الطاولات الجانبية، فإن التصاميم المتنوعة تضيف لمسة أنيقة وعملية إلى كل غرفة. طاولات مودرن

    Reply

  23. Uncover the perfect additions to your One Piece collection at Real Pop Mania. From officially licensed Funko Pop! figures to exclusive collectibles, we have it all. From Monkey D. Luffy to Roronoa Zoro. Shop now and complete your One Piece collection like a pro. Real Pop Mania, Let The Mania Begin. funko pop portgas d ace

    Reply

  24. A trading plan is a systematic method for identifying and trading securities that includes a number of variables including time, risk, and objectives. Markup

    Reply

  25. Delve into the World of CasterHQ: Unveiling Our Journey, Core Values, and Unwavering Dedication to Delivering Superior Quality and Service in the Caster and Wheel Industry. Casters

    Reply

  26. I wish more authors of this type of content would take the time you did to research and write so well. I am very impressed with your vision and insight.

    Reply

  28. DOT77 membarikan panduan cara bermain game online dengan baik dan benar untuk mencapai kemenangan, ikuti Langkah memainkannya untuk merasakan WD maksimal melalui link VIP ini! dot77 link

    Reply

  33. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon! Venetian Plastering

    Reply

  35. bola88 atau bola88.com merupakan agen taruhan online terpercaya dengan tampilan modern dan dinamis. Login & daftar sekarang melalui link alternatif bola 88. bola88

    Reply

  37. Empower Your Canine Companion: Explore Our Comprehensive Dog Training Resources, Courses, And Expert Tips. Check out itsaboutdog.com.

    Reply

  39. This is true regardless of the software vendor or application type. However, the main purpose of the instrument is to automatically install software on many computers in a company.
    PDQ Deploy Cracked

    Reply

  41. I am often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new information. 토토사이트

    Reply

  42. harum4d merupakan situs slot gacor kekinian yang saat ini sedang viral atau trend banyak peluang yang disediakan situs slot harum 4d harum4d

    Reply

  46. Sign up for free and play at Sedap168, situs permainan adventure terbaik di kelasnya yang bisa memberikan banyak hadiah setiap hari secara gratis. Salah satu game yang bisa dimainkan secara gratis dan bisa menghasilkan uang setiap hari hanya di Sedap168. slot thaland

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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