Access to Health Care for Immigrants in NYC
Access to Health Care for Immigrants in NYC
In contrast to most industrially developed countries, American private-public health care system is far from being universal. However, health care system makes a difference in whether and when people get necessary medical care, where they get their care, and ultimately, how healthy people are. Research has repeatedly shown that the lack of insurance ultimately compromises a persons’ health because they are less likely to receive preventive care, are less able to afford prescription drugs, are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable health problems, are more likely to be diagnosed in the late-stages of disease and once diagnosed tend to receive less therapeutic care (1).
Despite general agreement that equity is a part of the United States political culture, there is a little consensus on what is meant by equity in health care in US. There is a variation in health status by location, race/ethnicity, gender, and poverty level. This variation highlights the inequality in the health of the US population, a reflection on insufficient access to care and health insurance coverage for such a big group of population as immigrants (1).
• Who are immigrants and why they have difficulties to assess health care system
Each year the U.S. government generously admits immigrants into the country to live, work, reunite with their families, and pursue the American dream. Some have parents, children, or spouses in the United States who sponsored them. Others have been admitted to fill jobs. Still others arrive as refugees or asylees, fleeing persecution in their home country.
According to Non-Citizen Benefit Eligibility Chart (2), qualified immigrants (who are lawful residents) are qualified for the public health benefits after five years of admitting the country. Unqualified immigrants (who are undocumented aliens) reminded ineligible for the most services (excluding emergency care service).
Even though lawful non-citizens
In contrast to most industrially developed countries, American private-public health care system is far from being universal. However, health care system makes a difference in whether and when people get necessary medical care, where they get their care, and ultimately, how healthy people are. Research has repeatedly shown that the lack of insurance ultimately compromises a persons’ health because they are less likely to receive preventive care, are less able to afford prescription drugs, are more likely to be hospitalized for avoidable health problems, are more likely to be diagnosed in the late-stages of disease and once diagnosed tend to receive less therapeutic care (1).
Despite general agreement that equity is a part of the United States political culture, there is a little consensus on what is meant by equity in health care in US. There is a variation in health status by location, race/ethnicity, gender, and poverty level. This variation highlights the inequality in the health of the US population, a reflection on insufficient access to care and health insurance coverage for such a big group of population as immigrants (1).
• Who are immigrants and why they have difficulties to assess health care system
Each year the U.S. government generously admits immigrants into the country to live, work, reunite with their families, and pursue the American dream. Some have parents, children, or spouses in the United States who sponsored them. Others have been admitted to fill jobs. Still others arrive as refugees or asylees, fleeing persecution in their home country.
According to Non-Citizen Benefit Eligibility Chart (2), qualified immigrants (who are lawful residents) are qualified for the public health benefits after five years of admitting the country. Unqualified immigrants (who are undocumented aliens) reminded ineligible for the most services (excluding emergency care service).
Even though lawful non-citizens