New data shared for the first time on NBC News shows that more than a quarter of young immigrants protected by the Childhood Deferred Arrivals Program, better known as DACA, have no health insurance or access to care. face the burden of not
a report announced Friday by the immigration rights nonprofit National Immigration Center Documenting a recent survey found that 27% of DACA recipients reported not having any type of health insurance or other medical plan.
The results suggest that: over 580,000 young people Of those without legal status who are allowed to work or study without fear of deportation under the Obama-era DACA program, nearly 157,000 are estimated to be uninsured. there is
The survey was conducted last year among 817 DACA recipients. It was managed by Tom K. Wongfounding director U.S. Center for Immigration Policy It was held at the University of California, San Diego, with the support of United We Dream, the nation’s largest immigrant youth initiative, the American Progress Policy Institute Center for American Progress Policy Institute, and the National Center for Immigration Law.
a previous version of survey A study conducted in 2021 found the DACA uninsured rate to be 34%. Kika Matos, director of the National Center for Immigration Law, said the slight drop was due to “a healthier economic climate.”
“Since our last survey was done when we were still in the middle of the pandemic, we believe economic trends have improved since then. It could mean that there is an increase in unemployment,” said Matos, the employer.
Of DACA recipients who reported having health insurance, 80% said they did so through their employer or union.
But unlike most Americans, when DACA recipients lose their jobs and their health insurance along with it, they can’t rely on the federal health insurance program. Federal health insurance programs are often more affordable, but are only available to legal immigrants.
Because lack of federal health insurance eligibility contributes to the high uninsured rate among DACA recipients, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden has proposed a rule It will expand access to health insurance for DACA recipients. Research shows that DACA recipients: Estimated $6.2 billion in federal taxes We fund such programs annually.
The proposed Biden rule has not yet been finalized, meaning that DACA recipients’ access to the federal health insurance program has not yet been agreed upon.
NBC News reached out to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the HHS office that submitted the proposed rule, for further comment.
Diana Avila, a DACA recipient, said, “Many of us avoid going to the doctor, so having access to affordable health care gives us great hope.” “Many people don’t want to go to the doctor because of how much it costs,” she said.
The Biden proposal would amend the definition of “legitimate presence” to include Medicaid and DACA recipients covered by the Affordable Care Act.
Avila, 22, was born in Honduras and has lived in Indiana since she was four years old. Avila was 12 when she got her DACA in 2012.
Barriers to healthcare access
DACA recipients are three times more likely to be uninsured than the general U.S. population, according to a 2022 study, now awaiting the fate of the proposed rule.
DACA has helped many eligible young immigrants access better-paying jobs and educational opportunities, but that is not the case for all beneficiaries.
“There are still large disparities when it comes to access to healthcare for this particular population,” Matos said.
According to the survey, DACA recipients reported other barriers to accessing healthcare.
- Fifty-seven percent of respondents believed that their immigration status did not entitle them to care.
- 51% reported being unaware of affordable care and coverage options available.
- 21% believe that access to health services may adversely affect their immigration status or that of a family member.
Of those surveyed, 71% reported past medical bills or a history of being unable to pay medical bills.
In addition, “I also have memories of family members being unable to pay medical bills and having to deal with bills,” Matos added.
Avila remembers growing up in a mixed immigrant family. This means she and her oldest siblings do not have access to affordable medical services, but her younger US-born siblings are eligible for care.
Avila said she was prone to ear infections as a girl. Her mother used every possible home remedy to escape doctors and hospitals and avoid high medical bills. In contrast, her younger brothers went to the doctor more often, even for minor problems.
When Avila was 18, she had a concussion while playing soccer at school and had to see a specialist. Avila recalled that she was hesitant to go because she was worried about her ability to pay for treatment for herself and her family.
“It makes me sad to think about it.
DACA uncertainty and damage to mental health
A decade after its launch, DACA has faced legal challenges from the Trump administration and Republican-led states. The program has stopped accepting new registrants since July 2021 due to pending court cases filed by Texas and other Republican-led states.
To improve the chances of DACA surviving a legal battle, the Biden administration implemented rules in October turning the program into a legal battle. federal regulation. A federal judge in Texas is expected to rule on the legality of the new rule this year.
“The volatile nature of DACA is so uncertain that it creates feelings of anxiety, depression and fear related to the future of their status,” Matos said of DACA recipients.
New report finds nearly half (48%) of DACA recipients report experiencing mental or behavioral health problems but do not seek care from a mental health professional bottom. The three main barriers were high costs, lack of time, and limited access to providers who could meet their cultural or linguistic needs.
Avila recently graduated from Marian University in Indianapolis with a degree in psychology and now works for a nonprofit that provides services to immigrants.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding DACA, she plans to enroll in law school to specialize in immigration law and human rights, hoping a more permanent solution to her immigration status will emerge.
“DACA recipients have made tremendous contributions to society, and it is time for change,” Avila said. would be the best way,” he said.
