Children and Youth Services Review
Volume 79, 2017, Pages 97-106

Health insurance coverage and routine health care use among children by family immigration status (Article)

Ybarra M.* , Ha Y. , Chang J.
  • a School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, 969 E. 60th Street, W1060637, United States
  • b School of Social Work, Boston University, 264 Bay Street Road02215, United States
  • c School of Social Work, Boston University, 264 Bay Street Road02215, United States

Abstract

This study utilizes Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey data to investigate children's (17 years and younger) health insurance coverage and routine medical and dental care visits by family immigration status (N = 2846). We use a combination of nativity (U.S. and foreign born) and legal status (authorized and unauthorized) of mothers and their children to categorize family immigration status (citizen mother-citizen child; authorized mother-citizen/authorized child; unauthorized mother-citizen/authorized child; unauthorized mother-unauthorized child). Health care use is measured by routine medical visits and dental visits. We find that health insurance coverage and dental visits are lowest for the children of unauthorized mothers but gaps are most pronounced for unauthorized mother–unauthorized child pairs. Policy implications, in light of recent health and immigration-related legislation, are discussed. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd

Author Keywords

Health insurance immigrants Immigration status Medical care Dental care

Index Keywords

California human female major clinical study immigrant law dental procedure neighborhood medical care family study health care utilization health insurance immigration mother Adolescent Child

Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85020247999&doi=10.1016%2fj.childyouth.2017.05.027&partnerID=40&md5=23edf6fca38206970809c33aae309d5e

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.05.027
ISSN: 01907409
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English