Immigrants in the U.S. Health Care System

Everyone should read this report that dispells 5 major myths. Go to the article and click to download the pdf. DP

Five Myths That Misinform the American Public

By Meredith L. King
americanprogress.org: Restrictionist politicians and talking heads concur that immigrants in the United States are a burden on our health care system. A decade ago this belief contributed to legislation that limited immigrants’ access to the health care system. Today, similar sentiments misinform the current debate over immigration reform.

These myths about documented and undocumented immigrants’ use of U.S. health care services need to be examined in detail if our nation is going to have a true understanding about the immigrants in the U.S. health care system.

The five most prevalent of these myths are:

+ U.S. public health insurance programs are overburdened with documented and undocumented immigrants.

+ Immigrants consume large quantities of limited health care resources.

+ Immigrants come to the United States to gain access to health care services.

+ Restricting immigrants’ access to the health care system will not affect American citizens.

+ Undocumented immigrants are “free-riders” in the American health care system.

These misconceptions feed a perception that one of the biggest reasons for our nation’s failing health care system is the growth of immigration—and not the lack of insurance and skyrocketing health care costs. As a consequence, these myths have influenced policymaking and sparked federal efforts to preclude immigrants’ access to the health care system.
Be sure to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.