Immigrants and health care: sources of vulnerability

Health Aff (Millwood). 2007 Sep-Oct;26(5):1258-68. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.26.5.1258.

Abstract

Immigrants have been identified as a vulnerable population, but there is heterogeneity in the degree to which they are vulnerable to inadequate health care. Here we examine the factors that affect immigrants' vulnerability, including socioeconomic background; immigration status; limited English proficiency; federal, state, and local policies on access to publicly funded health care; residential location; and stigma and marginalization. We find that, overall, immigrants have lower rates of health insurance, use less health care, and receive lower quality of care than U.S.-born populations; however, there are differences among subgroups. We conclude with policy options for addressing immigrants' vulnerabilities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Emigrants and Immigrants / classification
  • Emigrants and Immigrants / statistics & numerical data*
  • Family Health / ethnology
  • Health Policy*
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Health Status Disparities*
  • Healthcare Disparities*
  • Humans
  • Insurance Coverage
  • Medically Uninsured / ethnology*
  • Poverty / ethnology
  • Residence Characteristics
  • Social Isolation
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vulnerable Populations / ethnology*