Medical Care for Undocumented Immigrants

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Abstract

The number of undocumented immigrants (UIs) varies worldwide, and most reside in the United States. With more than 12 million UIs in the United States, addressing the health care needs of this population presents unique challenges and opportunities. Most UIs are uninsured and rely on the safety-net health system for their care. Because of young age, this population is often considered to be healthier than the overall US population, but they have specific health conditions and risks. Adequate coverage is lacking; however, there are examples of how to better address the health care needs of UIs.

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Most cited references 26

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Barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants: a literature review

Karen Hacker, Maria Anies, Barbara L Folb … (2015)

With the unprecedented international migration seen in recent years, policies that limit health care access have become prevalent. Barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants go beyond policy and range from financial limitations, to discrimination and fear of deportation. This paper is aimed at reviewing the literature on barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants and identifying strategies that have or could be used to address these barriers. To address study questions, we conducted a literature review of published articles from the last 10 years in PubMed using three main concepts: immigrants, undocumented, and access to health care. The search yielded 341 articles of which 66 met study criteria. With regard to barriers, we identified barriers in the policy arena focused on issues related to law and policy including limitations to access and type of health care. These varied widely across countries but ultimately impacted the type and amount of health care any undocumented immigrant could receive. Within the health system, barriers included bureaucratic obstacles including paperwork and registration systems. The alternative care available (safety net) was generally limited and overwhelmed. Finally, there was evidence of widespread discriminatory practices within the health care system itself. The individual level focused on the immigrant’s fear of deportation, stigma, and lack of capital (both social and financial) to obtain services. Recommendations identified in the papers reviewed included advocating for policy change to increase access to health care for undocumented immigrants, providing novel insurance options, expanding safety net services, training providers to better care for immigrant populations, and educating undocumented immigrants on navigating the system. There are numerous barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants. These vary by country and frequently change. Despite concerns that access to health care attracts immigrants, data demonstrates that people generally do not migrate to obtain health care. Solutions are needed that provide for noncitizens’ health care.

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Primary care: a critical review of the evidence on quality and costs of health care.

Mark Friedberg, Peter S Hussey, Sophie Schneider (2010)

Despite contentious debate over the new national health care reform law, there is an emerging consensus that strengthening primary care will improve health outcomes and restrain the growth of health care spending. Policy discussions imply three general definitions of primary care: a specialty of medical providers, a set of functions served by a usual source of care, and an orientation of health systems. We review the empirical evidence linking each definition of primary care to health care quality, outcomes, and costs. The available evidence most directly supports initiatives to increase providers' ability to serve primary care functions and to reorient health systems to emphasize delivery of primary care.

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Depression and anxiety among first-generation immigrant Latino youth: key correlates and implications for future research.

Jill M. Perreira, Stephanie R Potochnick (2010)

We examined how the migration and acculturation experiences of first-generation Latino youth contributed to their psychological well-being. Data came from the LAMHA (Latino Adolescent Migration, Health, and Adaptation) study, which surveyed 281 first-generation Latino immigrant youth, ages 12 to 19. Using logistic regression, we evaluated how migration stressors (i.e., traumatic events, choice of migration, discrimination, and documentation status) and migration supports (i.e. family and teacher support, acculturation, and personal-motivation) were associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety. We found that migration stressors increased the risk of both depressive symptoms and anxiety. Time in the United States and support from family and teachers reduced the risk of depressive symptoms and anxiety. Compared with documented adolescents, undocumented adolescents were at greater risk of anxiety, and children in mixed-status families were at greater risk of anxiety and marginally greater risk of depressive symptoms.

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Author and article information

Contributors

Teresa L. Beck

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Prim Care

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Prim. Care

Title: Primary Care

Publisher: Elsevier Inc.

ISSN (Print): 0095-4543

ISSN (Electronic): 1558-299X

Publication date PMC-release: 29 December 2016

Publication date (Print): March 2017

Publication date (Electronic): 29 December 2016

Volume: 44

Issue: 1

Pages: e1-e13

Affiliations

[a ]Emory Family Medicine Residency Program, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 4500 N. Shallowford Rd, Suite B, Dunwoody, GA 30338, USA

[b ]Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, TN, USA

Author notes

[∗ ]Corresponding author. tbeck@ 123456emory.edu

Article

Publisher ID: S0095-4543(16)30062-8

DOI: 10.1016/j.pop.2016.09.005

PMC ID: 7112294

PubMed ID: 28164824

SO-VID: f1032d1c-40e3-4809-a3e8-b103bd3d6d59

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Since January 2020 Elsevier has created a COVID-19 resource centre with free information in English and Mandarin on the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The COVID-19 resource centre is hosted on Elsevier Connect, the company's public news and information website. Elsevier hereby grants permission to make all its COVID-19-related research that is available on the COVID-19 resource centre - including this research content - immediately available in PubMed Central and other publicly funded repositories, such as the WHO COVID database with rights for unrestricted research re-use and analyses in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for free by Elsevier for as long as the COVID-19 resource centre remains active.

Medical Care for Undocumented Immigrants : National and International Issues

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Pan African Medical Journal

Most cited references 26

Barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants: a literature review

Primary care: a critical review of the evidence on quality and costs of health care.

Depression and anxiety among first-generation immigrant Latino youth: key correlates and implications for future research.

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