Posted on 36,779 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?

36,779 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  1. href=”https://303bets.net/”>303bet Fill in the form with your personal data, such as name, email and telephone number

    Reply

  4. Security: Ensures safety through partnerships with official regulatory bodies, maintaining fair play​.Promotions: Regular promotions like cashback and free bets to enhance user engagement​. miso88

    Reply

  6. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Maybe you could write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more things about it! Best Crypto Exchange 2024

    Reply

  7. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon! e2bet

    Reply

  8. The next occasion I read a weblog, I really hope which it doesnt disappoint me around that one. I am talking about, I know it was my solution to read, but I really thought youd have some thing intriguing to express. All I hear is actually a bunch of whining about something that you could fix when you werent too busy in search of attention. https://vn88so.org/

    Reply

  10. Ticket Options: Users can buy single tickets or join syndicates to increase their chances of winning. loto188

    Reply

  11. Texas Mor lottery is a variant of the lottery game that has attracted the attention of many players around the world. This game combines elements of luck and strategy, where players have to guess the numbers that will come out in the lottery. If you are curious about the game, just check the website.https://cherryeighteen.com/

    Reply

  12. 대전광역시에서의 오피 서비스는 Rose-op에서 찾으세요. 저희는 정확한 컨디션과 저렴한 가격으로 24시간 연중무휴 서비스를 제공하며, 고객님의 만족을 보장합니다. Rose-op을 통해 편안하고 만족스러운 서비스를 경험해 보세요. 대전오피

    Reply

  13. Hello, you used to write fantastic, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your super writings. Past several posts are just a little bit out of track! come on!”To be content with what one has is the greatest and truest of riches.” by Cicero. Download GB WhatsApp

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.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