Healthcare Policy Issue Description- Access to Health Care for Immigrants
Healthcare Policy Issue Description- Access to Health Care for Immigrants
According to Budiman (2020), the USA has the largest number of immigrants globally. Data demonstrates that the U.S. has approximately 44.8 immigrants (Budiman, 2020). This represents about 13.8% of the total population. Budiman (2020) reports that about 10.5 million of this population are unauthorized immigrants, whereas 34 million are lawful immigrants. Immigrants face various challenges. Notably, they have inadequate access to health care services (KFF, 2022). This paper discusses access to healthcare by immigrants and the proposals to address the problem. Do you need urgent assignment help ? Get in touch with us.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (2022), immigrants are most likely to be uninsured, unlike the natives. Approximately 26 percent of lawful immigrants and 42 percent of unauthorized immigrants are uninsured compared to 8 percent of native citizens (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2022). Additionally, about 10 percent of children with one non-citizen parent are most likely to be uninsured compared to approximately 4 percent of children whose parents are citizens (KFF, 2022). Findings indicate that approximately 17 percent of children of authorized immigrants are uninsured, whereas 28 percent of children of illegal immigrants are uninsured (KFF, 2022). Lack of health insurance limits the access to affordable healthcare services by immigrants (KFF, 2022).
Various factors contribute to higher uninsured rates among immigrants. Unavailability of employer-sponsored coverage limits access to healthcare by immigrants (KFF, 2022). Findings demonstrate that despite immigrants being full-time workers, they lack access to employer-sponsored insurance (KFF, 2022). This problem is compounded by the findings that indicate lower income rates among immigrants compared with citizens. Findings demonstrate that approximately 44 percent, 39 percent, and 26 percent of unauthorized immigrants, legal immigrants, and citizens, respectively, earn low incomes (KFF, 2022). When employer-sponsored coverage is available, immigrants are unable to afford it due to their low-income levels (KFF, 2022). This limits their access to quality, affordable healthcare services, unlike the citizens.
Restrictions in the eligibility for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) limit healthcare access for immigrants. Undocumented immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid and CHIP Services (KFF, 2022). Additionally, immigrants with temporary protected status are ineligible for these services (KFF, 2022). Lawful immigrants are eligible for Medicaid and CHIP Services. However, some restrictions may impede full access. Legal immigrants are prequalified before having full access to Medicaid and CHIP (KFF, 2022). Additionally, qualified legal immigrants wait for 5 years after qualification to access and enroll in Medicaid and CHIP Services (KFF, 2022). These restrictions limit immigrants’ ability to access affordable coverage and quality healthcare services.
Restrictions in the Affordable Care Act market coverage limit access to health care for immigrants. Unlike lawful immigrants, unauthorized immigrants are restricted from purchasing the Affordable Care Act via marketplaces (KFF, 2022). Lawful immigrants are eligible for the Affordable Care Act market coverage. However, they are still uninsured. This is caused by factors such as health illiteracy, fear, and confusion (KFF, 2022). Findings indicate that the amendment of the immigration policy by President Donald Trump’s administration created fear and confusion among eligible legal immigrants (KFF, 2022). Consequently, they did not enroll in the Medicaid and CHIP programs. Healthy illiteracy contributes to the unawares of Medicaid and CHIP policies among eligible legal immigrants (KFF, 2022). By so doing, their ability to access healthcare services is impeded. Furthermore, cultural insensitivity impedes access to healthcare services by eligible immigrants (KFF, 2022). This includes language barriers and having different cultural and religious beliefs (Khullar & Chokshi, 2019).
Kaiser Family Foundation (2022) reports that immigrants were affected significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic than native citizens. COVID-19-associated complications increased healthcare needs, including healthcare costs (KFF, 2022). Increased healthcare costs reduced health coverage rates among immigrants due to their low-income levels. Additionally, immigrants had limited access to COVID-19 relief (KFF, 2022). Findings reveal that immigration policy changes during the pandemic impaired the ability of immigrants to seek healthcare services, including vaccinations (KFF, 2022).
What has been Proposed
The Health Equity a