A 2019 survey of community health centers finds that nearly half reported that many or some of their immigrant patients refused to enroll in Medicaid in the past year, a finding that suggests immigrant families are reacting in fear to a recent Trump Administration “public charge” rule. Under the rule, legal immigrants enrolled in Medicaid or other public health programs could face barriers to getting a green card or some other pathway to citizenship.
The survey’s findings were published by The Kaiser Family Foundation in a brief titled “Impact of Shifting Immigration Policy on Medicaid Enrollment and Utilization of Care among Health Center Patients.”
The Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) conducted the survey from May through July 2019 in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). The survey was done after the Trump Administration has released the proposed “public charge” rule but before it was finalized. A side-by-side comparison of the proposed and final Trump Administration rules prepared by the researchers can be found here.
Key findings from the survey:
- About one in three community health centers said that many or some of their immigrant patients disenrolled from or refused to renew Medicaid coverage.
- Nearly four in 10 health centers reported that many or some immigrant patients were refusing to enroll their children in Medicaid over the last year.
- Nearly three in 10 health centers reported many or some immigrant patients were disenrolling or refusing to renew Medicaid coverage for their children.
- Nearly three in 10 health centers reported declines among many or some adult immigrant patients in seeking health care in the past year, while over one in five reported reductions in health care use among some or many children in immigrant families.
According to the brief, the findings suggest that there is “growing fear and uncertainty” among immigrant families in response to the shifting U.S. immigration policies. Decreased coverage and declines in health care use will have negative impacts on the health and well-being of families and children, the brief says.
Read the data brief, “Impact of Shifting Immigration Policy on Medicaid Enrollment and Utilization of Care among Health Center Patients,” here.