Posted on 38,887 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?

38,887 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  1. Best business phone service solution for your office with Telenet Solutions. Telenet Solutions offer the best business phone systems for business.
    Telenet Solutions

    Reply

  2. Best business phone service solution for your office with Telenet Solutions. Telenet Solutions offer the best business phone systems for business.

    Reply

  3. This is my most memorable time visit here. From the lots of remarks on your articles,I surmise I’m not just one having all the happiness here! zeusslot

    Reply

  4. Gratitude for another astounding post. What other place might anyone at any point get that sort of data in such an optimal approach to composing? As I would like to think, my looking for has finished at this point. toto slot login

    Reply

  5. Very efficiently written information. It will be beneficial to anybody who utilizes it, including me. Keep up the good work. For sure i will check out more posts. This site seems to get a good amount of visitors. air duct cleaning

    Reply

  6. In the realm of www, there are endless websites. However, accept me, this blog has all the flawlessness that makes it special on the whole. I will be back over and over. rem4d

    Reply

  7. You can buy drugs online without prescription from the comfort of your own home. Drug Store UK is the best online pharmacy in the world. Moreover, we sell many different types of medicines with many different strengths. We offer both generic and brand name Order medicines. We accept prescriptions for customers who have been prescribed medicines by their doctors, but there is no need to bother because we do not require a prescription to sell you medicine! BUY MORPHINE PILLS UK

    Reply

  9. Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real hard work to make a great article… but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though. https://www.symbridge.com/

    Reply

  10. You really make it appear really easy together with your presentation however I to find this topic to be actually one thing that I feel I would by no means understand. It seems too complex and extremely extensive for me. I’m taking a look ahead on your next put up, I will attempt to get the hold of it! Java Burn Review

    Reply

  11. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also https://pafipckotamadiun.org/

    Reply

  13. What’s going on, I’m new here, and I came upon this. I’ve found it to be really helpful and it has really helped me out. As it has helped me, I hope to contribute and assist other users as well. Well done. Best Smart Locks

    Reply

  16. To check out become in your blog nevertheless environment remedy obviously merely a small little submits. Reasonable way of possible long term, We’re book-marking at a time safe types cease increases collectively. plataforma nova

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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