Healthcare for Immigrants in America
Maya, Undergraduate Student (UM-Dearborn) Immigration status disturbs many aspects of what we consider daily life. However, daily life for an immigrant is vastly different than that of a United States-born citizen. Work, school, health, well-being, peace of mind, and opportunities are all challenged whether you are either a documented or undocumented immigrant. Research indicates that immigrants often neglect their health needs because they fear interactions with social and public agencies may go awry. Healthcare in the United States is an intricate and confusing maze, full of hidden fees and loopholes. Individuals able to afford it can purchase marketplace health insurance. Companies and businesses offer health insurance for their employees. Low-income individuals and families qualify for governmental health insurance. Some immigrants may find this extremely exhausting. Others are simply not able to afford healthcare and most undocumented immigrants qualify for zero healthcare benefits. For immigrants, these repeated obstacles can sometimes act as a complete barrier to accessible healthcare. Indeed, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-supported study examined the factors that influence immigrants’ “vulnerability to inadequate healthcare.” This included socioeconomic background, immigration status, limited English proficiency, federal, state, and local policies on access to publicly funded healthcare (i.e., Medicaid and Medicare for the disabled and elderly), residential location, and stigma and marginalization. All in all, the study determined that immigrants are less likely to have health insurance and obtain medical/dental care, and lastly, they receive lower quality of care than United States born citizens. At the point-of-care at medical facilities, immigrants are more fearful of deportation because they are placing themselves in the headlights of social and public services. As of January 2021, only 16 U.S. states issue driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants. For the others, when asked to present their identity cards to register as new patients, they are faced with yet another obstacle. This stress associated with the fear of deportation can often lead to the avoidance of medical care as a whole. This creates an obvious and enormous threat to the health of a developing child which needs frequent medical visits. Moreover, the rate of uninsured patients is much higher for immigrants, 44% of noncitizen immigrants are uninsured in comparison to 13% of U.S.-born citizens being uninsured. Immigrants are less likely to receive quality healthcare because of the high rates medical facilities charge for out-of-pocket paying patients. If an immigrant does happen to receive healthcare, the language barriers often pose a serious barrier between the healthcare provider and the patient. Many medical facilities do not have translators at the point-of-care and therefore non-English speaking patients are left to struggle with the physician. Throughout the exchange in the patient room, communication is bound to be misunderstood and skewed. Healthcare for immigrants, documented and undocumented, needs major reform. Legislatures should create statutes setting a flat and universal fee for all medical procedures and visits. Depending on the CPT code, a universal, fairly affordable, price will be set on it for all out-of-pocket patients. This way, immigrants do not have to fear going to the doctors without insurance. If a patient is unable to pay in full at point-of-service, then they should stipulate to a payment plan. As for the language barriers, third-party translator companies can be accessible to all physicians to use with their patients via phone or online. This way a patient can easily describe their complaint without potentially putting their health in jeopardy. Healthcare for immigrants is a serious issue in the United States. Each and every individual has the human right to adequate healthcare. Immigrants, for various reasons, are less likely to obtain adequate medical and dental care. The challenges they face in the workplace and the income they bring home all play a role in the outcome of their health. The toxic stress of being deported is something they carry with them everywhere. Statutes mandating flat-fee, translators easily accessible, and immigration reform can all help improve the well-being of immigrants as they deserve. References: 1. Anon. 2019. “Immigration, Health Care and Health.” RWJF. Retrieved April 6, 2021 (https://www.rwjf.org/en/library/research/2017/09/immigration-status-and-health.html). 2. Ku, Leighton Ku Leighton. 2019. “Why Immigrants Lack Adequate Access to Health Care and Health Insurance.” Migrationpolicy.org. Retrieved April 6, 2021 (https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/why-immigrants-lack-adequate-access-health-care-and-health-insurance). 3. Ryan, Wendy E. Parmet Elisabeth. 2018. “New Dangers For Immigrants And The Health Care System: Health Affairs Blog.” Health Affairs. Retrieved April 6, 2021 (https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20180419.892713/full/).
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