Uninsured Migrants: Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care Among Mexican Return Migrants

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Existing research on Mexican immigrants often overlooks health outcomes of return migrants.
• Focus has been on labor market mobility and economic contributions, not health.
• Recent scholarship indicates poor mental and physical health among Mexican return migrants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate health insurance coverage among Mexican return migrants.
• To examine access to medical care for this population.
• To address the health disparities highlighted by recent scholarship.

Main Methods:

• Utilized descriptive and multivariate statistical techniques.
• Analyzed data from Mexico's National Survey of Demographic Dynamics (ENADID).
• Included data from 2009 and 2014 rounds (combined n=632,678).

Main Results:

• A substantial and ongoing disparity in health coverage exists between recent return migrants and non-migrants.
• Unemployment among recent returnees is linked to a lack of health insurance.
• Return migrants disproportionately use private clinics, pharmacies, or self-medicate, often lacking a regular care source.

Conclusions:

• Mexican return migrants experience limited access to essential medical care.
• The findings underscore the need for targeted policies to support reintegration.
• Ensuring access to healthcare is crucial for the well-being of this growing population.