Healthcare coverage for undocumented migrants in Spain: Regional differences after Royal Decree Law 16/2012

Health consequences of the US Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration programme: a quasi-experimental study

“…The findings of large effects on mental health are consistent with results from observational studies showing rising symptoms of anxiety and depression with policies that raise the risk of deportation. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] These findings could be of considerable importance in the current policy environ ment, with the USA broadening the legal infrastructure and human resources base needed to deport undocumented immigrants and restrict the entry of new migrants. 24,41 Additionally-as of the time of writing-the future of the DACA programme itself seems to be in doubt.…”

“…[3][4][5][6] In particular, the results of studies from both the USA and European settings suggest that immigration policies that raise the risk of deportation or place limits on legal rights and access to social services might raise the risk of poor mental health outcomes, such as depression and anxiety, and curtail access to health care more generally. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In recent years, the USA has witnessed substantial changes in policies towards undocumented immigrants. In June, 2012, the US Government initiated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which provided temporary work permits and freedom from deportation to individuals who met specific eligibility criteria (panel).…”

“…More generally, studies linking policies targeting undocumented migrants to health outcomes are generally descriptive, with the underlying causality less clear. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] This broader question has gained significance in recent months, as fundamental changes in US immigration policy are being debated. 24,25 In this study we aimed to examine the consequences of the US DACA programme on self-reported overall and mental health among undocumented immigrants of Hispanic origin (who represent the majority of DACAeligible individuals).…”

Newly Arrived African Migrants to Spain: Epidemiology and Burden of Disease

“…Furthermore, for these irregular migrants, access to healthcare is troublesome, either because it is limited to emergency situations or because of the lack of free services. 7 In Andalusia, the region of Spain where the study has been carried out, access of undocumented immigrants to public healthcare has remained free and universal throughout the period of economic crisis, a fact that has not occurred in other regions of the national territory. This full access to public healthcare includes not only access to Primary Care but also patients' referral to specialized care without any obstacles, performance of whatever diagnostic examinations needed, and administration of prescribed treatments.…”

7. Healthcare for undocumented migrants

“…Many of the autonomous regions, however adopted legal, legislative and administrative actions to void or limit [the law's] effects, while others applied it as intended, resulting in huge differences in healthcare coverage for irregular migrants among Spanish Regions. (Cimas et al 2016) In Switzerland, healthcare is generally regulated by the national law on health insurance, the 'Krankenversicherungsgesetz' (KVG). Switzerland has a strong federal tradition, so its administrative regions, the cantons, retain much of the power to implement this law and regulate healthcare autonomously in their areas.…”