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?

47,540 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants

  1. Sustainable fashion prioritizes eco-friendly practices and ethical production in the clothing industry. It focuses on using organic materials, reducing waste, and ensuring fair labor conditions. By encouraging consumers to invest in quality pieces and embrace recycling, sustainable fashion aims to minimize environmental impact and promote a more responsible, conscious approach to style.
    Sustainable fashion

    Reply

  2. 긍정적 인 사이트,이 게시물에 대한 정보를 어디서 얻었습니까? 나는 그것을 발견하게되어 기쁘다. 당신이 어떤 추가 포스트를 포함하는지 곧 확인하기 위해 곧 다시 확인할 것이다. 오피쓰 주소

    Reply

  3. 훌륭한 작업을 완료했습니다. t 내 친구 ind personilly wtll certitnly dtgtt를 제안합니다. t’m conftdent 그들은 thts webstte에서 gitned 될 것입니다 오피사이트

    Reply

  4. 훌륭한 작업을 완료했습니다. t 내 친구 ind personilly wtll certitnly dtgtt를 제안합니다. t’m conftdent 그들은 thts webstte에서 gitned 될 것입니다 오피뷰

    Reply

  5. 주목할만한 기사, 특히 유용합니다! 나는 이것에서 조용히 시작했고 더 잘 알게되고 있습니다! 기쁨, 계속해서 더 인상적 오피뷰홈페이지

    Reply

  6. 훌륭한 작업을 완료했습니다. t 내 친구 ind personilly wtll certitnly dtgtt를 제안합니다. t’m conftdent 그들은 thts webstte에서 gitned 될 것입니다 툰코 웹툰

    Reply

  7. 훌륭한 작업을 완료했습니다. t 내 친구 ind personilly wtll certitnly dtgtt를 제안합니다. t’m conftdent 그들은 thts webstte에서 gitned 될 것입니다 오피사이트

    Reply

  8. Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this just before. So nice to get somebody with original ideas on this subject. https://t.me/iv?url=https://weedystoner.com/ really thanks for starting this up. this amazing site is one thing that is needed on the internet, a person with a little originality. helpful project for bringing something totally new to your world wide web!

    Reply

  9. You have done a great job on this article. It’s very readable and highly intelligent. You have even managed to make it understandable and easy to read. You have some real writing talent. Thank you. plataforma nova

    Reply

  10. This specific seems totally perfect. Every one of these little facts are made together with wide range of background knowing. I really like this particular a good deal. daun 77

    Reply

  11. It is appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest you few interesting things or advice. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read more things about it! Nasa 7 Second Brain Trick

    Reply

  12. Hello I am so delighted I located your blog, I really located you by mistake, while I was watching on google for something else, Anyways I am here now and could just like to say thank for a tremendous post and a all round entertaining website. Please do keep up the great work. spaceman slot

    Reply

  13. This is why promoting for you to suitable seek ahead of creating. It’s going to be uncomplicated to jot down outstanding write-up doing this. akurat 77

    Reply

  14. I am impressed. I don’t think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. You are truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog you have got here. alexistogel

    Reply

  15. Hi88 Institute la link Hi88 Chính Thức Không Bị Chặn 2024. Hi88 Institute cung cấp link vào Hi88 an toàn tuyệt đối, dac biet la trong boi canh link nha cai Hi88 thuong xuyen bi chan. Hi88 Institute

    Reply

  16. Temukan pengalaman bermain terbaik di ALEXISTOGEL, situs slot gacor dengan RTP tinggi dan peluang menang mudah. Dapatkan maxwin setiap hari di slot hoki kami yang mudah menang! alexistogel

    Reply

  17. Thanks so much for this information. I have to let you know I concur on several of the points you make here and others may require some further review, but I can see your viewpoint. 200 backlink

    Reply

  18. i am for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to present something back and help others such as you helped me. anru33

    Reply

  19. Thanks so much for this information. I have to let you know I concur on several of the points you make here and others may require some further review, but I can see your viewpoint. pro200 backlink

    Reply

  20. Hi there! Just wanted to drop a quick note to say hello! I hope your day is filled with positivity. Let’s catch up soon! aavot

    Reply

  21. The AI Cybersecurity Certification from IAISP is a must for anyone looking to stay ahead in the cybersecurity field. It covers cutting-edge AI tools and techniques, providing a solid foundation to tackle modern cyber threats. Highly recommended for professionals aiming to boost their skills and career!

    Reply

  22. i am for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to present something back and help others such as you helped me. pro200 backlink

    Reply

  23. Thanks so much for this information. I have to let you know I concur on several of the points you make here and others may require some further review, but I can see your viewpoint. 200 backlink

    Reply

  24. i am for the first time here. I found this board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to present something back and help others such as you helped me. anru33

    Reply

  25. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article.

    Reply

  26. The online slot player community continues to grow, facilitating discussions and sharing experiences between members. Leveraging information from fellow players about online slots can be key to finding effective patterns and strategies. If you want to know more information, you can visit the website https://asyabrooklynny.com

    Reply

  27. Once everything has got cleared, your name is on our reservation list. After that, all you need to do is sit back, get prepared and wait for a call from our Independent Indirapuram Escorts . Who will make sure you experience the best moment of your life with high-class call girls in Indirapuram.

    Reply

  28. Sebagai situs slot gacor resmi tahun 2024, IDR168 menawarkan pengalaman bermain slot online terbaik. Dengan berbagai macam pilihan permainan slot dan bet 200 perak, situs ini menjadi tujuan utama para slotter di Indonesia. Fitur Slot unggulan dan jaminan keamanan membuat IDR168 sebagai Situs terpercaya untuk meraih kemenangan besar. idr168 login

    Reply

  29. 취약한 순간에 부드러운 토닥이는 신뢰를 구축하는 데 도움이 되어 시간이 지남에 따라 관계가 깊어지고 번성할 수 있습니다. 토닥이

    Reply

  30. 긍정적 인 사이트,이 게시물에 대한 정보를 어디서 얻었습니까? 나는 그것을 발견하게되어 기쁘다. 당신이 어떤 추가 포스트를 포함하는지 곧 확인하기 위해 곧 다시 확인할 것이다. 안전놀이터

    Reply

  31. We have a very good and very interesting site that can make money quickly with just a small deposit we can get money up to tens of millions or even hundreds of millions, for those of you who want to try playing it, you only need to click on our website here waktogel

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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