Making health reform a reality for all: Challenges and opportunities for immigrant communities

In 2014, as Americans begin to realize the significant promise of health reform, a distinction between two communities will become glaringly apparent, as immigration status becomes one of the major determinants of whether an individual has access to affordable health insurance and health care.

While health reform makes major inroads in expanding coverage, it completely excludes undocumented immigrants. Recent federal rules bar young adults commonly known as DREAMers from health reform. Existing federal law imposes lengthy waiting periods for most low-income immigrants with legal status. The complex interaction between immigration status and eligibility for health services creates major enrollment barriers for children who are eligible and live in mixed-immigration status families. Immigration-related restrictions serve as an additional barrier to reducing uninsurance and expanding access to care among racial and ethnic minorities who already face difficulties due to language and cultural barriers.

This presentation will provide an overview of the above eligibility restrictions and present select case studies. It will also identify opportunities for immigrants, both in the context of health reform and, pending action by lawmakers, comprehensive immigration reform. Participants will also learn about policy solutions, and ways to expand coverage in the context of these legal limitations, and multi-cultural and multi-lingual outreach initiatives.