Medical Care for Undocumented Immigrants: National and International Issues

Teresa L Beck; Thien-Kim Le; Queen Henry-Okafor; Megha K Shah

doi:10.1016/j.cpha.2018.08.002

Medical Care for Undocumented Immigrants: National and International Issues

Physician Assist Clin. 2019 Jan;4(1):33-45. doi: 10.1016/j.cpha.2018.08.002. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Authors

Teresa L Beck¹, Thien-Kim Le¹, Queen Henry-Okafor², Megha K Shah¹

Affiliations

¹ Emory Family Medicine Residency Program, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, 4500 N. Shallowford Rd, Suite B, Dunwoody, GA 30338, USA.
² Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, TN, USA.

Abstract

The number of undocumented immigrants (UIs) varies worldwide, and most reside in the United States. With more than 12 million UIs in the United States, addressing the health care needs of this population presents unique challenges and opportunities. Most UIs are uninsured and rely on the safety-net health system for their care. Because of young age, this population is often considered to be healthier than the overall US population, but they have specific health conditions and risks. Adequate coverage is lacking; however, there are examples of how to better address the health care needs of UIs.

Keywords: Access to care; Health care; Medical care; Undocumented immigrants.

Publication types

Review