Immigrant families battle worsening healthcare barriers in the US

A new report highlights the growing struggles immigrant families face in accessing healthcare across the US. The challenges range from insurance barriers to fear of deportation, with recent policy changes worsening the situation. One researcher's personal experience sheds light on how these issues affect real lives.

The author of the report moved from Mexico to California at age three. Years later, her brother was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy—a progressive disease with no cure. As a child, she helped her parents navigate his medical care, witnessing firsthand the difficulties immigrant families encounter.

Recent cuts to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program have made healthcare even harder to access. A 2023 Republican tax and spending plan slashed funding, leading to the closure of hundreds of Planned Parenthood centres. These clinics provided critical services, including reproductive care, which many immigrants now struggle to afford.

Undocumented and mixed-status families face additional risks. Abortion bans put them at higher risk of criminalisation due to their immigration status. Misinformation about abortion laws and travel dangers further complicates their ability to seek care. Fear of deportation or family separation also stops many from visiting doctors, even for urgent needs.

Beyond legal barriers, long wait times and a lack of culturally competent providers create further obstacles. Many immigrants remain excluded from insurance programmes entirely, leaving them without basic medical support.

The report underscores how policy changes and systemic barriers disproportionately harm immigrant communities. Without access to affordable care, many families face worsening health outcomes. Advocates stress the need for solutions that address both legal and practical challenges in the healthcare system.