Undocumented workers are at the highest risk when compared to other workgroups. This is because of the current political climate regarding immigration policies and numerous legal issues that surround them. As a result, undocumented immigrants always live with the fear of deportation. These people work under poor conditions that predispose them to many health conditions even though they do not have insurance covers. Because they work every day, they have no access to proper healthcare during working hours (Ku & Matani, 2001). These present a complex reality of ensuring the rights of the immigrants to quality healthcare. Also, this lack of viable healthcare options hinders the successful assimilation of undocumented workers into society. Due to their immigration status, language, and socioeconomic status, they usually receive unequal healthcare services.
The Disparity of Focus: Lack of Insurance Covers
Due to their immigration status, undocumented workers are restricted from receiving social services, including access to public health. Besides, undocumented workers have limited access to equitable healthcare services because of the Affordable Care Act and the Patient Protection Act that does not allow them to participate in state exchange insurance market places (Wallace et al., 2013). As a result, undocumented workers cannot access Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Their high uninsured rate also limits their access to employer-sponsored insurance.
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The Influence the Disparity Has on Healthcare Systems and Resources
Due to a lack of insurance, undocumented workers use fewer healthcare resources compared to US citizens. Even though opponents of immigrants claim that undocumented workers contribute to much-uncompensated care and strain the healthcare system, they paying more towards healthcare than they use. Moreover, most immigrants are young and hence have few health conditions (Flavin et al., 2018). Therefore, if they happen to have insurance covers, they contribute more to the insurance pool than US-born citizens.
Recommendations to Address the Problem
To expand access to healthcare for undocumented workers, there needs to be comprehensive policy reform. This policy reform should be based on critical analysis of immigrant health policies and the impact of undocumented immigrants on healthcare providers' role, impact on healthcare expenditure, and public health (Wallace et al., 2013). Moreover, nurse policymakers should advocate for policy reforms that improve undocumented workers' health and the nation in general.
Also, health insurance determines access to healthcare. Therefore, barriers to access can lead to severe costlier conditions and hospitalizations that could otherwise have been avoided. For immigrants, work-based insurances are the major insurance sources. Hence, local leaders should increase their chances of being employed by the book to reduce their limitations to work-based insurance covers. However, most undocumented immigrants concentrate on low-wage industries with poor working conditions and are less likely to give insurance coverage (Wallace et al., 2013). Suppose undocumented workers are given a chance to show their expertise and work in better fields. In that case, it will increase their chances of getting insured, increasing their access to healthcare, and ultimately improving their health and well-being.
Moreover, the disparity is due to more employers not giving insurances to their low-wage employees. Therefore, policy reforms should also focus on ensuring that a minimum wage is redefined above which each employer should provide an insurance cover to his employees (Ku & Matani, 2001). Even though these concerns are addressed in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the undocumented workers are barred from these provisions of the Act. Health insurance is essential for undocumented workers to obtain needed medications and receive healthcare, especially in emergencies.
References
Flavin, L., Zallman, L., McCormick, D., & Wesley, Boyd, J. (2018). Medical expenditures on and by immigrant populations in the United States: a systematic review. International Journal of Health Services , 48 (4), 601-621.
Ku, L., & Matani, S. (2001). Left out: immigrants’ access to health care and insurance. Health Affairs , 20 (1), 247-256.
Wallace, S. P., Rodriguez, M., Padilla-Frausto, I., Arredondo, A., & Orozco, E. (2013). Improving access to health care for undocumented immigrants in the United States. salud pública de méxico , 55 , s508-s514.
