TY - JOUR
T1 - The Other US Border
T2 - Health Insurance Coverage Among Latino Immigrants In Puerto Rico
AU - Rivera-González, Alexandra C.
AU - Stimpson, Jim P.
AU - Roby, Dylan H.
AU - Canino, Glorisa
AU - Purtle, Jonathan
AU - Bellamy, Scarlett L.
AU - Ortega, Alexander N.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Project HOPE— The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - Puerto Rico is a US territory and a popular destination for Latino immigrants in the Caribbean. Even with few language and cultural barriers, however, many Latino immigrants in Puerto Rico are uninsured. Using data from the 2014–19 Puerto Rico Community Survey, we examined inequities in health insurance coverage for non–Puerto Rican Latinos ages 18–64 living in Puerto Rico according to citizenship status and Latino subgroup (Dominican, Cuban, Mexican, and other Latino). After controlling for potential confounders, we found that noncitizen Dominicans had a significantly lower probability of having any health insurance (57.2 percent) and having any private insurance (31.5 percent). Regardless of similarities in culture and language, Latino immigrants on the island, particularly Dominicans, experience major health insurance coverage inequities. Considering that Puerto Rico’s immigration system is regulated by US federal statute, both federal and local policy makers should acknowledge and focus on reducing these immigrant disparities in health insurance coverage.
AB - Puerto Rico is a US territory and a popular destination for Latino immigrants in the Caribbean. Even with few language and cultural barriers, however, many Latino immigrants in Puerto Rico are uninsured. Using data from the 2014–19 Puerto Rico Community Survey, we examined inequities in health insurance coverage for non–Puerto Rican Latinos ages 18–64 living in Puerto Rico according to citizenship status and Latino subgroup (Dominican, Cuban, Mexican, and other Latino). After controlling for potential confounders, we found that noncitizen Dominicans had a significantly lower probability of having any health insurance (57.2 percent) and having any private insurance (31.5 percent). Regardless of similarities in culture and language, Latino immigrants on the island, particularly Dominicans, experience major health insurance coverage inequities. Considering that Puerto Rico’s immigration system is regulated by US federal statute, both federal and local policy makers should acknowledge and focus on reducing these immigrant disparities in health insurance coverage.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85110960176&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85110960176&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00049
DO - 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00049
M3 - Article
C2 - 34228518
AN - SCOPUS:85110960176
SN - 0278-2715
VL - 40
SP - 1117
EP - 1125
JO - Health Affairs
JF - Health Affairs
IS - 7
ER -