Healthcare access for undocumented populations

Health Care and the Undocumented

One of the hot button issues that have been continually debated over the last several years is: the status of undocumented workers. Where, denying these individuals access from having health care services is a way of preventing abuses of various social service programs. As these people are in the country illegally, this makes them intelligible; for any kind of assistance (according to some individuals). However, when you look beyond these views, it is clear that this can have a negative impact on undocumented workers and their families. These two issues are important, because understanding them can have a profound effect upon nurses. Where, their views on issues will help determine how the national debate is shaped. To understand this effect requires examining the two issues and then discussing how researching them, can influence public health policy / outcomes. Together, the different elements will provide the greatest insights, as to the overall effect that committed nurses can have on the field of health care.

The various welfare reforms that were enacted in 1996, made obtaining any kind of health care more difficult for undocumented workers. Where, many programs began denying coverage to undocumented individuals and their families. In some cases this issue became even more confusing when you look at the family, with at least one of the parents being a documented worker. While at the same time, their children could be American citizens. Since the parent is undocumented, this means that the entire family will be denied access to health care coverage. This will have a negative effect on the underlying levels of health for undocumented workers and their family. As they do not have the money to be able afford these services and then denying them access to treatment, will mean that many small conditions will go unreported. Over the course of time, this can cause complications that will result in serious injury or possibly death. (Aparico, 2004, pp. 73 -- 74) Simultaneously, many undocumented workers are fearful of going for health care services, because of the possibility of being deported and the levels of discrimination that they will face at the hospital. Where, their status could mean that they may or may not receive treatment (even if they have the money to pay for it). (Wolf, 2008) When you put all of these different elements together, it means that denying health care services to undocumented workers and their families will cause their underlying levels of health to slowly deteriorate. If something serious does occur, these people will more than likely be forced to fend for themselves.

Conducting research in these two areas would be beneficial in influencing health care policy / outcome by: highlighting the overall human cost of the problem on the industry and society. Where, the act of denying them access to health care and the lingering effects could be considered a human rights issue. As a result, the research that would be conducted would be beneficial, in highlighting the overall harsh conditions that these families are forced to endure. Once you present the situation in this light, this will shift the debate from one of a cost issue to being about: basic civil rights and the protections that non-citizens are given. As they make a tremendous economic and cultural contribution to society.