Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 4, 2014, Pages 607-612

Uninsurance, underinsurance, and health care utilization in Mexico by US border residents (Article)

Su D.* , Pratt W. , Stimpson J.P. , Wong R. , Pagán J.A.
  • a Center for Reducing Health Disparities, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4340, United States
  • b Department of Finance, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA, United States
  • c Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
  • d Sealy Center on Aging, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX, United States
  • e Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX, United States, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Abstract

Using data from the 2008 Cross-Border Utilization of Health Care Survey, we examined the relationship between United States (US) health insurance coverage plans and the use of health care services in Mexico by US residents of the US-Mexico border region. We found immigrants were far more likely to be uninsured than their native-born counterparts (63 vs. 27.8 %). Adults without health insurance coverage were more likely to purchase medications or visit physicians in Mexico compared to insured adults. However, adults with Medicaid coverage were more likely to visit dentists in Mexico compared to uninsured adults. Improving health care access for US residents in the southwestern border region of the country will require initiatives that target not only providing coverage to the large uninsured population but also improving access to health care services for the large underinsured population. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Health care utilization Uninsurance Underinsurance US-Mexico Border

Index Keywords

medically uninsured insurance health insurance human Insurance Coverage statistics and numerical data Mexico Insurance, Health United States Surveys and Questionnaires Humans migrant male Emigrants and Immigrants female questionnaire adult migration patient attitude Emigration and Immigration Patient Acceptance of Health Care Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904397887&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9828-2&partnerID=40&md5=39a70a520f4c6d0557ee37f4b30c11a1
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9828-2
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English