Provides the report by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured on the health coverage challenges facing immigrants, the federal rules regarding immigrants’ eligibility for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and state efforts to provide replacement coverage for immigrants who are ineligible for Medicaid and SCHIP. Immigrants have high uninsured rates and experience difficulties accessing necessary care. Although most children living with low-income immigrant families are citizens, these children have higher uninsured rates than children with native-born parents. The disparity of health coverage between immigrants and citizens has widened since the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act of 1996. Disparities in coverage are not explained by work effort as the vast majority of immigrants have a full-time worker in the family. They, however, hold low-wage jobs that are less likely to offer health benefits. States can take action to encourage enrollment of eligible immigrants in public health coverage and to improve immigrants’ access to care. (IP)
