Immigration Health Care Options – Information, Facts, and Tips

Every human being, immigrant or not, has the right to life and preservation of health and well-being, international human rights law and domestic law and immigrants’ rights as per the constitution of our country. Immigration health care, this is a right of every immigrant.

In the U.S, immigrants make up about 13% of the total population. A large majority of immigrants, i.e. nearly 69%, are residing legally. These include naturalized citizens as well as legal non-citizens, which include immigrants with legal permanent residency, refugees, and other humanitarian immigrants. It is estimated that about 11 to 12 million immigrants are undocumented, accounting for 30% of all immigrants.

The National Immigration Law Centre (NILC) works in the US to protect and uphold these rights of immigrants and their families by including them in vital health care programs. The current social events in the US have made it difficult for the NILC to protect these individuals especially because medical deportations are a rising issue.  

The Affordable Care Act is constantly updating the health insurance system over the last several years. Even with these updates, there is constant confusion amongst immigrants about the variety of health insurance available to them.

Allista understands the health crisis and the medical needs of immigrants. Allista comforts deported immigrants and offers the best medical health care and support they need to recover health.  Allista is well equipped with latest medical technology that can successfully treat disease conditions across branches of medicine, for which immigrants are deported, such as rehabilitation, physiotherapy, mental health, etc.

 

Available Sources for Immigration Health Care

Various sources are available on how immigrants are getting health coverage. Depending on their immigration status and other eligibility criteria, many immigrants may be eligible for health care options like

• Employer-sponsored plans
• The individual market (i.e., non-group) plans purchased off-exchange
• Exchange coverage like Medicare programs for 65+ age group
• Health plans that are created specifically for immigrants
• Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) or through Medicaid or the Children’s
• Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

• Medi-Cal coverage
• Community Health Centers (CHCs)
• Migrant Health Centers (MHCs)
• Student health plans

Short-term health insurance policies are grown extensively as they are the last resort for uninsured Americans outside of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These short-term health policies aren’t expensive but people can’t easily meet the stringent eligibility criteria set by them.

Although the ACA provides benefits to U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants alike, it does not directly provide any benefits for undocumented immigrants. Such immigrants are not eligible for Medicaid under federal guidelines too.

Although, California has passed many laws that protect undocumented immigrants. According to an article published in The Atlantic, these laws have made life easier for immigrants. There are some health care services that are still available for uninsured undocumented immigrants, regardless of their ability to pay. In addition, the Federal law ensures hospitals provide screening, primary care, and stabilization to anyone in emergency situations.

Some Immigrant Health Care Facts

• Non-citizens are much more likely to be uninsured than citizens, but they are not the primary concern for the Government.
• Non-citizens receive significantly less health care than citizens.
• Non-citizens are significantly less likely to use the emergency room than citizens.

 

Tips

Before choosing insurance for you and your family, check the following-

• Go over the list of immigration statuses that qualify for particular health care coverage.
• Look into all the immigration health care options that will be available to you before traveling to a new country.
• Check if you are eligible to enroll in single or group insurance schemes.
• Inquire what insurance your employer has to offer you.
• Check if you are eligible for lower costs on monthly premiums and lower out-of-pocket costs.
• Check if you can avail low-cost health care at a community health center.

Following some of these tips will ensure that you and your family are insured. In addition, you will know exactly what immigration health care benefits you can avail in a new country. Contact us to learn more about our healthcare options.

Allista aims at providing the best-suited treatment plan to deported immigrants at a nominal rate. Allista lovingly welcomes its patients who are in despair and sends them off with only good health and a smiling face.