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Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

Published in:

01-06-2008 | Original Paper

The Effect of Parental Immigration Authorization on Health Insurance Coverage for Migrant Latino Children

Authors: Andrea C. Weathers, Cynthia S. Minkovitz, Marie Diener-West, Patricia O’Campo

Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health | Issue 3/2008

Abstract

Objective: To examine if immigration authorization among parents is associated with health insurance coverage for migrant Latino children. Data Source: A cross-sectional household survey of 300 migrant families for which one child, aged <13 years, was randomly selected. Results: Most children lacked insurance (73%) and had unauthorized parents (77%). Having an authorized parent or parental stay of more than 5 years in the US were each positively associated with children’s health insurance coverage [OR: 4.9; 95% CI: (2.7–8.7) and [OR = 6.7; 95% CI: (3.8–12.0), respectively]. The effect of parental authorization did not persist in multivariable logistic regression analysis; however, more than 5 years of parental stay in the US remained associated with children’s insurance coverage [OR = 4.8; 95% CI (1.8–12.2)], regardless of parental authorization. Conclusion: Increased parental familiarity with US health and/or social services agencies, rather than parental authorization status, is important to obtaining health insurance for migrant children. Efforts to insure eligible migrant children should focus on recently arrived families.

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Title: The Effect of Parental Immigration Authorization on Health Insurance Coverage for Migrant Latino Children
Authors: Andrea C. Weathers
Cynthia S. Minkovitz
Marie Diener-West
Patricia O’Campo
Publication date: 01-06-2008
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 1557-1912
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1920
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-007-9072-8

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The Effect of Parental Immigration Authorization on Health Insurance Coverage for Migrant Latino Children

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