Immigrant Health Issues, Essay Example

Health care has been a hot topic of debate for everyone in the recent times of the United States; still, although the situation of the American people has been fairly well expounded upon what of the situation faced by immigrants? What are the challenges that are involved in the care of immigrant patients and what is it that they themselves have to overcome?

One of the most notable would most likely be that of a language barrier. Though more and more people are gaining insight into the Spanish language, there are still many others floating around about which people have no clue. In the event that a French woman comes into the ER, hysterical with an unconscious child, the likelihood of her people coherent in broken English, or the doctors being able to understand what happened, is going to be limited, for both parties.

Additionally, typically immigrants end up in impoverished communities, are subject to discrimination and even inequality. As such, the availability of funds is going to be quite short when it comes to needing a doctor; granted this is the case for an increasing number of citizens as well. Health care insurance is hard enough to afford when one is ‘well- off’ for anyone struggling insurance is, most of the time, non- existent.

So, the health care system has trouble understanding the problem, and may have issues getting payment for services rendered; just like with everyone else. As such, it is imperative that some sort of change be made in health care regulation so that universal health care coverage can be made available to everyone within the United States; rich, poor, citizen, or immigrant alike.

References

Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Catalano, R., Kolody, B., Vega, W.  (1999). “Gaps in Service Utilization by Mexican Americans with Mental Health Problems.” The American Journal of Psychiatry. 156(6): p. 928-934.

Doty, M. (2003). “Hispanic patients’ double burden: lack of health insurance and limited English.” Commonwealth Fund Publishing. The Commonwealth Fund. 592.

Prentice, J. C., Pebley, A. R. and Sastry, N. (2005). “Immigration Status and Health Insurance Coverage: Who Gains? WhoLoses?”American Journal of Public Health. 95(1): p. 109-116.