Despite representing over 40% of the U.S. Latino population and playing important roles in the economy, Latino immigrants have limited access to health care and face financial, educational, cultural, and language barriers that affect their health status, early diagnosis, and adequate care. Undocumented immigrants are more likely to face these barriers. This study is based on a survey that assessed access to health care and health status, and sociodemographic characteristics of 319, mostly Mexican, immigrants (147 undocumented, 172 documented) in Texas. Fewer than one third of all respondents had health insurance and one fourth reported having a usual source of care. Undocumented respondents were younger, less educated, less likely to speak English, more likely to be males, reported lower income, and had fewer years of U.S. residency compared to documented respondents. In addition, they were 72% and 51% less likely to have health insurance and a health provider, respectively. As hypothesized, disparities between documented and undocumented immigrants were found regarding health status and access indicators. Less than one tenth (9.1%) of undocumented respondents reported having some form of health insurance compared to 40.7% of those documented; respondents who perceived themselves as having poor health were 10.8 times more likely to be undocumented. Proposals for expanding health care for immigrants, regardless of their migration status, include: affordable health insurance, community health centers, and decreased restrictions on participation in federal and state programs. © 2006 Springer Publishing Company.

access to health care Health status Immigrant disparities Undocumented

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