Posted on 51,930 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?

51,930 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  3. Vi Music boasts a massive catalog of songs from various genres, artists, and languages. Whether you’re a fan of pop, rock, hip-hop, or classical, Vi Music has something for everyone. This platform regularly updates its collection with the latest releases, ensuring that users have access to the freshest tracks.

    Reply

  4. Discover everything you need to know about 6 gauge electrical wire, including wire size and building wire options. Free shipping available on orders over $1000! 6 Gauge Wire – JOCA

    Reply

  5. 私はすべての声が尊重され、ポジティブな環境が作られるよう努めています。皆さんの意見を自由に共有し、意義のある対話に参加し、互いに応援し合うことを期待しています。一緒にインスピレーションを与え合い、支え合う場所を作りましょう！

    また、私のブログを多くの方にシェアしていただけると本当に嬉しいです。ありがとうございます
    24kbet

    Reply

  7. A great content material as well as great layout. Your website deserves all of the positive feedback it’s been getting. I will be back soon for further quality contents. 슬롯 솔루션

    Reply

  9. Memilih link situs taruhan slot gacor online resmi terpercaya di tahun 2024 adalah langkah penting untuk memastikan pengalaman bermain yang aman, adil, dan menguntungkan. PETIRTOTO menyediakan tips bermain slot gacor. petirtoto

    Reply

  10. 훌륭하게 작성된 기사, 모든 블로거가 동일한 콘텐츠를 제공한다면 인터넷이 훨씬 더 나은 곳이 될 것입니다 .. 스포츠중계

    Reply

  11. https://sun-win.co.in Sunwin cong game bai doi thuong uy tin, tai Sun Win choi game: Tai Xiu, Ban Ca, Lo De, Xoc Dia, No Hu, The Thao,… Nhan giftcode hap dan.

    Reply

  12. Welcome di RAJABANDOT, website togel online 4D terkemuka. Kami menawarkan berbagai jenis permainan togel dengan hadiah terbesar dan memukau bagi pemain situs judi online. Sebagai situs promosi hadiah terbesar. RAJABANDOT juga menjadi pilihan utama para penggemar togel di Asia. togel online

    Reply

  13. สล็อตเว็บตรง เว็บใหญ่ปลอดภัย ลิขสิทธิ์แท้ ปั่นสล็อตแตกหนัก ปลอดภัยทุกเกมส์ มีระบบเติมเงินรองรับทรูวอเลท ที่ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ เว็บตรงไม่ผ่านเอเย่นต์ 100% สล็อตเว็บตรง100%

    Reply

  15. At Flowers Brisbane, we believe in the power of flowers to brighten any day and make every occasion special. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or simply want to bring a smile to someone’s face, our exquisite bouquets and exceptional service are here to help you express your sentiments beautifully. With free delivery across Brisbane and stunning bouquets starting from just $49, we are your go-to florist for quality, convenience, and affordability. online flower delivery brisbane

    Reply

  16. TERATAI888 merupakan salah satu situs slot gacor yang terlengkap dan Agen Sbobet teranama di Indonesia yang menyediakan event mixparlay lose 1 team dengan pasaran bola yang sangat akurat setiap harinya. Teratai888

    Reply

  18. เว็บตรง มาพร้อมการ ฝาก-ถอน ผ่าน true money wallet บริการที่ทันสมัยใส่ใจดักเดิมพัน

    Reply

  23. being an entrepreneur opened up lots of business leads on my line of work, i like to make money both online and offline** slot88

    Reply

  28. Your achievement is really amazing! You have shown great dedication and effort, and you also have great talent in drawing, your work is always amazing, for those of you who want to see the amazing site, you can visit the website here https://fabiobiliotti.com/

    Reply

  30. 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 무료스포츠중계

    Reply

  33. I got too much interesting stuff on your blog. I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the good work 해외축구중계

    Reply

  39. 훌륭하게 작성된 기사, 모든 블로거가 동일한 콘텐츠를 제공한다면 인터넷이 훨씬 더 나은 곳이 될 것입니다 .. 토토솔루션

    Reply

  42. This is a great article, and you’ve really highlighted some important challenges that immigrants face when trying to access healthcare. I was wondering—have you thought about using video as a way to bridge the language gap even further? Like, just as Valleywise Health Medical Center made those videos about COVID-19, maybe more organizations could do something similar for explaining healthcare plans or basic services. Tools like Alight Motion are great for making animated, easy-to-understand videos in different languages. Do you think something like that could help make the information more accessible to immigrant communities? I feel like a lot of people respond really well to visual explanations, especially when the topics are complicated.

    Reply

  43. This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work. I have been meaning to write something like this on my website and you have given me an idea. 해외스포츠중계

    Reply

  45. 이러한 유형의 주제를 검색하는 거의 모든 사람들에게 도움이되기를 바랍니다. 저는이 웹 사이트가 그러한 주제에 가장 적합하다고 생각합니다. 좋은 작품과 기사의 품질. 슬롯 솔루션

    Reply

  46. We have sell some products of different custom boxes.it is very useful and very low price please visits this site thanks and please share this post with your friends. nafcny.com

    Reply

  48. 매우 유익한 게시물! 성공적인 소셜 네트워킹 캠페인을 시작하는 데 도움이되는 많은 정보가 여기에 있습니다! 슬롯 솔루션

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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