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Life on the Edge: Immigrants Confront the American Health System.
Alejandro Portes1, Patricia Fernández-Kelly, Donald W Light
1Princeton University.
Ethnic and Racial Studies
|April 16, 2013
Summary
This study reveals significant barriers to healthcare access for immigrants in the USA. Regional politics and policies create disparities in care for foreign-born individuals, particularly the undocumented.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology of Health
- Health Policy
Background:
- Immigration significantly impacts the US healthcare system, creating complex challenges.
- Foreign-born populations, especially undocumented immigrants, face substantial barriers to accessing care.
- The demand for immigrant labor contrasts with the lack of effective immigration and health policies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the interaction between immigration and health systems in the USA.
- To investigate healthcare access barriers for foreign-born individuals, particularly unauthorized immigrants.
- To analyze how regional differences, politics, and history shape healthcare alternatives.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from forty health care delivery institutions across Florida, California, and New Jersey.
- Examination of coping strategies employed by uninsured, low-income immigrant populations.
- Qualitative and quantitative assessment of systemic contradictions and regional variations.
Main Results:
- Significant barriers to healthcare access exist for foreign-born individuals, including undocumented immigrants.
- Lack of access and high costs necessitate various coping strategies within commercial healthcare settings.
- Regional political and historical contexts critically influence healthcare availability and alternatives for immigrants.
Conclusions:
- The US healthcare system exhibits systemic contradictions regarding immigrant labor and policy.
- Healthcare access for immigrants is highly variable, shaped by local factors.
- Effective policy interventions are needed to address the healthcare needs of the foreign-born population.
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