Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 17, Issue 1 SUPPL., 2006, Pages 81-94

Inclusion of immigrant families in U.S. health coverage expansions (Article)

Hirota S.* , García J. , Silber R. , Lamirault I. , Penserga L.J. , Hall M.B.
  • a Asian Health Services, Oakland, CA, United States
  • b La Clinica de La Raza, United States
  • c Alameda Health Consortium, United States
  • d Alameda Alliance for Health, United States
  • e Community Voices Project-Oakland, United States
  • f ERA Associates, Silver Spring, MD, United States

Abstract

This paper examines federal and state restrictions on immigrants and the negative impact of these restrictions on local efforts to serve the uninsured. It examines a health coverage program offered to low-income residents in Alameda County, California from 2000 to 2005, illustrating local efforts to expand health coverage to both adults and children, regardless of immigration status. After five years of operating the pilot program, leaders of Alameda County's health care safety net conclude that local health coverage programs are unsustainable over a long period of time without significant federal and state support. The financial resources that federal, state, and local governments are patching together for health coverage could be used more efficiently if consolidated. Stabilizing the federal tax base and recognizing the phenomenal amount of federal, state, and local funding that is already spent on medical care for the uninsured are the first steps towards achieving meaningful health care reform.

Author Keywords

Health insurance immigrants Welfare reform Low-income Health coverage Underserved Undocumented

Index Keywords

Vulnerable Populations vulnerable population State Health Plans medically uninsured health care planning economics insurance Community Health Services community care poverty human Insurance Coverage family health social care ethnology program development United States Humans California United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Article migration Community Health Planning government Emigration and Immigration Public Assistance patient Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33644778702&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.2006.0006&partnerID=40&md5=f36720ffabc47eb8964d88d4775a27cd
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2006.0006
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English