Pew Hispanic Center Releases Report on Health Insurance of Hispanics by Immigration Status

The Pew Hispanic Center, a project of the Pew Research Center, today released a report on health insurance coverage and access to health care among Hispanics by immigration status. Six-in-ten Hispanic adults in the U.S. who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents* lack health insurance. In contrast, 28% of Hispanic adults who are citizens or legal permanent residents and 17% of the overall U.S. adult population lack health insurance.

Hispanics who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents are also more likely than other Hispanics to lack a usual health care provider and seek services at a clinic or health center. About one-in-three of those without a usual provider report finances are a factor, but the majority say they do not need one. Hispanics who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents are relatively young and less likely than other adults to report being sick.

The estimates are based on a new analysis of a survey of 4,013 Latino adults conducted by the Pew Hispanic Center and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from July 16, 2007 to September 23, 2007.

* The Center estimates that 98% of Hispanic immigrants who are neither citizens nor legal permanent residents are undocumented.

The report, "Hispanics, Health Insurance and Health Care Access," authored by Gretchen Livingston, Senior Researcher, Pew Hispanic Center, is available at the Pew Hispanic Center's website, www.pewhispanic.org.