Immigrants in the United States face substantial barriers to health care due to a wide range of institutional barriers, regardless of their legal status. Immigrant’s barriers to care include: a five-year waiting period before documented immigrants can access Medicaid, a total ban on undocumented immigrants’ access to health insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and concerns about immigration enforcement actions at or near health centers. Many immigrant communities also face systemic discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and national origin, leading to poorer health outcomes, including for family planning and sexual health.
NFPRHA's Work
NFPRHA works to ensure health services are accessible for and welcoming to immigrant communities and to advocate for health care policies that promote, rather than hinder, health care and coverage. As part of that commitment, NFPRHA supports the availability of Title X-funded care for all, regardless of immigration and documentation status. NFPRHA supports the HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act, legislation that would remove barriers to health coverage for immigrants.
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