Posted on 46,541 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?

46,541 thoughts on “Access to Healthcare for Immigrants”

  1. hello!,I love your writing so much! share we keep up a correspondence more about your post on AOL?
    I require a specialist in this space to resolve
    my problem. Maybe that is you! Looking ahead
    to look you.

    Feel free to visit my site: escort scotland glasgow

    Reply

  2. Great blog you have here but I was wondering if you knew
    of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here?
    I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get
    feed-back from other experienced individuals that share
    the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

    Thank you!

    my site; thrift store plateau mont royal

    Reply

  3. Welcome to klasemen pildun 2026 , the best place to get the latest news, in-depth analysis, and exciting reviews about the world of football! Join us to follow every game, see how your favorite teams are doing, and explore all things interesting about the sport we love. Be part of a passionate and knowledgeable community of football fans.

    Reply

  5. Amazing things here. I am very satisfied to look your article.
    Thank you so much and I am looking ahead to contact you.

    Will you kindly drop me a mail?

    Look into my web-site :: orgonitovy sperk

    Reply

  7. I’ve been browsing on-line greater than three hours today, but I never found any
    interesting article like yours. It is beautiful worth enough for me.
    In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made excellent content as you did, the internet will probably be a lot more helpful than ever before.

    Here is my website … пример

    Reply

  8. You are so interesting! I do not think I’ve truly read a single thing like this before.
    So great to discover another person with a few
    unique thoughts on this issue. Really.. many thanks
    for starting this up. This site is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!

    My homepage thrift shop in montreal

    Reply

  9. Loved this article! Your perspective on this topic is refreshing.
    I appreciate the insights you provided. This is a unique take on the subject.
    Thanks for shedding light on this issue; You’ve inspired me to learn more about this topic.

    This is a must-read for everyone and I’m curious to hear what others think about it!
    Overall, I think this topic is crucial for our community, and discussions like this help us
    grow and learn together. Keep up the great work!

    My blog … Illinois Press release – wikimapia.org,

    Reply

  10. That is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the
    blogosphere. Short but very precise information… Thank you for sharing this
    one. A must read post!

    Here is my web-site – slot gacor

    Reply

  12. Just wish to say your article is as surprising. The clarity in your post is just spectacular and i could assume
    you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with
    your permission allow me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with forthcoming
    post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work.

    Feel free to visit my blog post … tonic greens reviews

    Reply

  13. 스포츠중계

    LinkMo is a platform that helps users easily find safe and reliable links to various sites. It
    aggregates diverse content such as eating and betting verification, free webtoons, and
    sports broadcasts, providing fast and secure access in one place.

    Reply

  14. Wow, that’s what I was seeking for, what a material!
    present here at this weblog, thanks admin of this website.

    Also visit my web page … thrift dtore

    Reply

  15. Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you could be a
    great author. I will ensure that I bookmark your
    blog and may come back later in life. I want to encourage that you continue your great
    work, have a nice evening!

    Here is my web site; LipoZem Results

    Reply

  16. Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue with your site in web explorer, might check this?
    IE still is the marketplace chief and a large part of other folks will omit your excellent writing
    due to this problem.

    my homepage: phim sex không che

    Reply

  20. 33Habet Semakin banyak variasi permainan yang Anda coba, semakin besar pula peluang Anda untuk meraih kemenangan.

    Reply

  30. menawarkan berbagai jenis taruhan togel online hari ini dengan tingkat kesulitan dan peluang menang yang berbeda-beda Lagabet888

    Reply

  33. Anda dapat mencari prediksi togel dari sumber-sumber terpercaya atau melakukan analisis sendiri berdasarkan data keluaran sebelumnya Misteruntung

    Reply

  43. Fantastic goods from you, man. I have remember your stuff prior to and
    you are just extremely wonderful. I actually like what you’ve obtained here, really like what you are stating and the way
    in which through which you assert it. You are making it
    entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart.
    I cant wait to read far more from you. This is actually a terrific
    website.

    My web page ссылке

    Reply

  44. Thanks for every other informative web site. The place else may just I get that kind of information written in such an ideal method?

    I have a undertaking that I’m simply now operating on, and I have been on the glance out for such information.

    Have a look at my blog; best thrift stores montreal

    Reply

  45. Positive site, where did u come up with the information on this posting?I have read a few of the articles on your website now, and I really like your style. Thanks a million and please keep up the effective work. Manual Handling

    Reply

  47. House Lawyers… […]just below, are some totally unrelated sites to ours, however, they are definitely worth checking out[…]… 뉴토끼

    Reply

  48. Thank you for an additional great post. Exactly where else could anybody get that kind of facts in this kind of a ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I’m around the appear for this kind of data. 오피스타

    Reply

  49. Well written articles like yours renews my faith in today’s writers. You’ve written information I can finally agree on and use. Thank you for sharing. 오피스타

    Reply

Leave a Reply

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