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Legal status and health disparities: An examination of health insurance coverage among the foreign-born

Author

Listed:
  • Christal Hamilton

    (Columbia University)

  • James Bachmeier

    (Temple University)

  • Claire Altman

    (University of Missouri)

  • Cody Spence

    (Temple University)

Abstract

Objective: This paper employs a statistical matching procedure to impute the legal status of foreign-born adults in US Census surveys in order to estimate migration status disparities in health insurance coverage. Methods: Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, we impute the legal/citizenship (migration) status of immigrants in the National Health Interview Survey. Results: Results from the pooled data document disparities in health insurance coverage among four citizen/legal status groups: naturalized citizens, lawful permanent residents, legal nonimmigrants, and unauthorized immigrants. Naturalized citizens had the highest rate of health insurance coverage, followed by legal immigrants, legal nonimmigrants, and unauthorized immigrants. Contribution: The paper presents revised pre–Affordable Care Act (ACA) estimates of health insurance coverage among the foreign-born that are crucial for evaluating the impact of the ACA on reducing or exacerbating disparities in health coverage among migration status groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Christal Hamilton & James Bachmeier & Claire Altman & Cody Spence, 2022. "Legal status and health disparities: An examination of health insurance coverage among the foreign-born," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(16), pages 453-488.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:47:y:2022:i:16
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2022.47.16
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Claire E. Altman & Christal Hamilton & James D. Bachmeier & Cody Spence, 2023. "Medicaid Health Insurance Coverage Among the Foreign-Born Following ACA Implementation: Disparities by Migration Status," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 42(4), pages 1-32, August.
    2. Christal Hamilton, 2024. "The impact of the 2014 Medicaid expansion on the health, health care access, and financial well‐being of low‐income young adults," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(8), pages 1895-1925, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    health insurance; immigration; legal status; imputation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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