This study examined health insurance disparities among recent immigrants. The authors analyzed all working-age adult immigrants between the ages of 18 and 64 using the New Immigrant Survey data collected in 2003. This survey is a cross-sectional interview of recent legal permanent residents on their social, economic, and health status. Respondents were interviewed in English or in their preferred languages. Nearly two-thirds of immigrants were uninsured, in spite of their strong labor force participation. Of the four key classes of immigration-employment based, family sponsored, refugee/asylum program, and diversity program-the diversity program immigrants were least likely to be insured, controlling for a wide array of demographic, human capital, acculturation, and assets-related variables. Strategies to increase health insurance coverage among legal immigrants, especially diversity immigrants, are discussed. © 2010 National Association of Social Workers.

Health insurance Immigrant health Legal immigrants Class of immigration Diversity visa

information processing medically uninsured economics methodology health insurance human middle aged statistics health service Logistic Models Insurance, Health Social Work Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female health services Article adult migration statistical model social class patient Data Collection