Immigration During Covid-19- What’s the Status?
When you live in a new country, you may have to get used to a lot of new things, from the management of cultural shocks, to experiencing new food and to knowing how to navigate your new environment. In addition, understanding what resources are available to maintain you and your family in your new country, particularly during a public health crisis such as COVID-19, is important.
COVID-19 has become an important part in our daily lives, and now it's more important than ever to know where to go, irrespective of immigration, to access routine and emergency medical services. In the United States, migrant and minority communities continue to be one of the largest people affected by COVID-19.
The fear that their immigration status will appear and the lack of knowledge of available resources will more often prevent non-citizens from seeking medical care. This underuse jeopardizes their health and could potentially put the general public at risk in relation to infectious diseases. Talk to an immigration lawyer to know more about it.
It is important to understand that providers of health care cannot ask patients about immigration status and do not have a legal obligation to report to FIAs. You and your family can receive the medical care you need if you are a non-citizen. Knowing all of your options can help you decide your next steps.
Barriers related to immigrants' Healthcare
Health insurance can really affect when, where and how a person is receiving health care in the United States. Because of a large insurance rate, the risk of non-citizen accessing routine care or having contact with a professional is considerably lower than that of citizens.
In addition, non-citizens lack better access to good health care and to language and cultural differences. Undocumented immigrants tend to seek medical care less because they are younger than U.S. citizens and less likely to report health problems. Additional factors that contribute to the reluctance to seek health services include:
Incapable of paying without insurance for health services.
Complex and overwhelming paperwork to make healthcare accessible.
Fear that the authorities will be reported.
Cultural differences make it difficult to accurately translate symptoms.
Little knowledge of the functioning or rights of access of healthcare systems.
Lack of stability, which forces a person to move around and often leads to incoherent care.
Non-citizens and unregistered residents provide many industries of the US economy with a much needed workforce. However, many lack access to adequate health or the misunderstanding that they are not permitted to be deported out of fear.
Come to Foshhe and Yaffe Attorneys at Law if you wish to hire a qualified immigration lawyer. Our office is in OKC, come and talk to us.
**Disclaimer: This content is not to be construed as legal advice nor does it establish terms of a client-attorney relationship.