Stop the Bleeding: Healthcare & Immigrants
Keep your poor and your tired; and oh yea, you better not get sick either. Catastrophic health sounds like what would strike people involved in a horrific incident. In fact it is a term allocated to health related conditions that will certainly lead to an undesirable end; in insurance terms, death and/or dismemberment. In a world of uncertainty, knowing that insurance might provide some relief to loved ones can be a comforting thought. Many people living and working in the United States today are forced to continue to do so with limited if any access to proper healthcare and it is going to have long term effects to the health of the community.
“The risk of catastrophic healthcare expenses is a major consequence of not having insurance. The uninsured often pay more for medical coverage, leading to a strain in household finances and mounting debt due to unpaid bills. According to a study by Nerd Wallet, medical bills are the number one reason people file for personal bankruptcy.” [1](Scott, 2009) Add to that the fear of a consequence of seeking healthcare being deportation or having a family member get deported and you have what could very well be a formula for disastrous healthcare outcomes in an already marginalized community. “People without health insurance often avoid going to the doctor, usually because of the cost of care. Uninsured individuals are less likely to [take] advantage of preventative care such as annual physicals and checkups. These routine exams help doctors catch potential problems early.” [2](Scott, 2009)
Immigrant communities are already living under a dark social cloud as they are forced to endure a social sentiment that continues to question their legitimacy and contribution to their newly adopted homes. “The number of legal immigrants from Latin American nations who access public health services and enroll in federally subsidized insurance plans has dipped substantially since President Donald Trump took office, many of them fearing their information could be used to identify and deport relatives living in the U.S. illegally, according to health advocates across the country.” [3](Kennedy, 2018) This means that many people are not getting the services that are vital for their continued health and wellbeing. This goes for new and expecting mothers, the elderly as well as those suffering with chronic illness like diabetes or HIV. “One social worker said she had a client who was forgoing chemotherapy because she had a child that was not here legally,” said Oscar Gomez, CEO of Health Outreach Partner, a national training and advocacy organization.” [4](Kennedy, 2018)
In some parts of the country actions are being taken to change unfair practices that force these individuals to remain fearful of seeking what can be lifesaving treatment. In Florida “ProPublica and NPR documented more than 130 cases in which immigrants who had suffered legitimate workplace injuries were flagged to law enforcement agencies by their employers’ insurers. The workers faced felony fraud charges for using a fake ID when they sought medical care. Meanwhile, the insurers often avoided paying the workers’ compensation benefits legally due to all employees injured at work….This has sent a signal throughout the workforce that if you’re injured, don’t report it, don’t tell your boss because you know that in order to keep from paying benefits, they’re going to call immigration on you,” said Rich Templin of the Florida AFL-CIO.” [5](Grabell, 2018) New legislation is up for consideration in the state that aims to help end the practice of insurers avoiding payouts by reporting undocumented immigrants who get hurt on the job.
Life is a challenge for most of us on our best days. Many of us don’t worry about our health until it reaches critical mass. “Undocumented immigrants are not eligible to enroll in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Health Insurance Marketplace, significantly curtailing the affordable health insurance and health care available to them.” [6](MacGuill, 2018) Without access to proper healthcare people who are already living a marginalized existence are more susceptible to undesirable outcomes. Having the deck stacked against you makes avoiding catastrophic situations a greater challenge for many who already face the hardship of having to constantly prove your worth.
[1] Scott, S. (October 19th, 2009) What Are the Consequences of Not Having Health Insurance? http://bit.ly/2nSt1As
[2] Scott, S. (October 19th, 2009) What Are the Consequences of Not Having Health Insurance? http://bit.ly/2nSt1As
[3] Kennedy, K. (January 23rd, 2018) Legal Immigrants Are Avoiding Health Care Fearing It Could Lead to Deported Relatives http://ti.me/2Gfhjav
[4] Kennedy, K. (January 23rd, 2018) Legal Immigrants Are Avoiding Health Care Fearing It Could Lead to Deported Relatives http://ti.me/2Gfhjav
[5] Grabell, M. (February 6th, 2018) Florida Bill Seeks to Stop Arrests of Injured Immigrant Workers http://bit.ly/2H7OGN8
[6] MacGuill, D. (January 16th, 2018) What Happens When You Cross the United States Border Illegally? http://bit.ly/2EV8na3
