Health Care and Immigration

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1306636 - The New England Journal of Medicine

As immigration reform is tossed around the legislature, there are valid points made on both sides. One of the biggest issues that face either argument is the clash of our current health care system with a potential immigration reform. Right now, health care is very restricted for undocumented immigrants. It’s highly unlikely that a bill would pass that would provide undocumented immigrants with the right to standard Medicaid. If the 11 million undocumented immigrants are legalized, providing further health care for these immigrants with health care suddenly becomes a major issue. Oh by the way, ironic as many Americans may think, most immigrants are healthier than nonimmigrants upon arrival – according to this article. Within one or two generations, after adopting unhealthy American lifestyles, combined with a lack of health care opportunities, these immigrants begin to face health issues.