Review: Immigrants and Health Care Access, Quality, and Cost

Abstract

Inadequate access and poor quality care for immigrants could have serious consequences for their health and that of the overall U.S. population. The authors conducted a systematic search for post-1996, population-based studies of immigrants and health care. Of the 1,559 articles identified, 67 met study criteria of which 77% examined access, 27% quality, and 6% cost. Noncitizens and their children were less likely to have health insurance and a regular source of care and had lower use than the U.S. born. The foreign born or non-English speakers were less satisfied and reported lower ratings and more discrimination. Immigrants incurred lower costs than the U.S. born, except emergency department expenditures for immigrant children. Policy solutions are needed to improve health care for immigrants and their children. Research is needed to elucidate immigrants' nonfinancial barriers, receipt of specific processes of care, cost of care, and health care experiences in nontraditional U.S. destinations.

Parental Health Literacy, Knowledge and Beliefs Regarding Upper Respiratory Infections (URI) in an Urban Latino Immigrant Population

“…24 Since there was an association in this study between lack of a regular health care provider and limited health literacy, it is possible that increased access to providers may be associated with more accurate knowledge and practices regarding URIs. 25 Substantial differences existed in classification of health literacy levels between the NVS and S-TOFHLA in this population of Latino parents.…”

Immigrant status and having a regular medical doctor among Canadian adults

“…7,16 A systematic review from the US also concluded that immigrant adults were less likely to have a regular doctor compared to their counterparts born in the US. 17 However, the universal (socialized) health care system in Canada creates very different conditions compared to the user-pay system in the US, creating the need for Canadian studies in this area. Prior cross-sectional evidence in Canada showed that new immigrant men and women were less likely to have a family doctor than the native-born population; similar to our study, the proportion of immigrants having a family doctor increased to a level more similar to that of the native-born population with increasing years in Canada.…”

“…7,16 Several studies from the United States have also reported differences between immigrant and non-immigrant populations; 13,14,17,18 however, important differences in the nature of the health care systems in Canada and the US create a need for uniquely Canadian data. Problems in acquiring primary care among immigrants have been attributed to communication difficulties, 4,7,17,19,20 cultural differences, 3,4,19 problems locating a doctor, 19 lack of knowledge of health care, 20 poor geographic access to a physician, 19 and mistrust in health care providers. 3 Past literature has suggested the need for more research on immigrant health in Canada, given the country's large immigrant population.…”

The healthcare system in Saudi Arabia: How can we best move forward with funding to protect equitable and accessible care for all?

“…For example the country may be adversely affected by factors such as the high immigration rates, as immigrants may often be those who are uninsured, so could be associated with higher government costs. [85] Comprehensive studies are, however, difficult, as many of the healthcare systems in the world which rely predominantly on private healthcare are located in low-income countries. This means that there is often only limited data which has been collected on performance, or difficulties accessing this information where it has been collected.…”