HEALTH INSURANCE and CITIZENSHIP
As the Hispanic population continues to grow, unfortunately the rates of the uninsured are also on the rise. Although many Americans lack health insurance, Hispanics are lacking basic access to medical care across all age groups.

• Hispanics have higher uninsured rates across all age groups when compared to non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Blacks. This is especially true for foreign-born Hispanics.
• Access to health care presents a major problem for many foreign-born Hispanics. Non-elderly, foreign-born Hispanics are more likely than U.S.-born Hispanics to be uninsured. In fact, foreign-born Hispanics (49%) are nearly twice as likely as their U.S-born (24%) counterparts to be uninsured. They are also more likely to be uninsured for longer periods of time when compared to U.S-born Hispanics.
• Undocumented Hispanic immigrants are also highly unlikely to have access to health care due to provisions such as the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, which placed serious restrictions on accessing Medicaid or other forms of public aid programs.
• Unfortunately, the Welfare Reform Act has created many challenges for Hispanic immigrants from receiving health care through various public aid programs. Even immigrants, who meet the requirements for such public aid programs, are afraid to apply because they feel they will seriously endanger their citizenship status.

Uninsured (all ages)

• The national average of the uninsured in the United States is approximately 15%.
• It is estimated that 19% of non-Hispanic Blacks are uninsured.
• 10% of all non-Hispanic Whites are uninsured.
• Unfortunately, Hispanics have the highest uninsured rates. It is reported that nearly 1 out of 3 Hispanics (33%) are likely to be uninsured.


(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

Uninsured Children (18 and under)

• The national average of uninsured children in the United States is 12%.
• Black, non-Hispanic children represent 14% of uninsured children.
• White, non-Hispanic uninsured children fall below the national average at 7%.
• Hispanics represent the highest number of uninsured children in the United States. Nearly 24% of Hispanic children are uninsured.


(Source: U.S. Census Bureau)