Uninsurance, underinsurance, and health care utilization in Mexico by US border residents

Dejun Su, William Pratt, Jim P. Stimpson, Rebeca Wong, José A. Pagán

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Using data from the 2008 Cross-Border Utilization of Health Care Survey, we examined the relationship between United States (US) health insurance coverage plans and the use of health care services in Mexico by US residents of the US-Mexico border region. We found immigrants were far more likely to be uninsured than their native-born counterparts (63 vs. 27.8 %). Adults without health insurance coverage were more likely to purchase medications or visit physicians in Mexico compared to insured adults. However, adults with Medicaid coverage were more likely to visit dentists in Mexico compared to uninsured adults. Improving health care access for US residents in the southwestern border region of the country will require initiatives that target not only providing coverage to the large uninsured population but also improving access to health care services for the large underinsured population.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)607-612
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Immigrant and Minority Health
    Volume16
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Aug 2014

    Keywords

    • Health care utilization
    • US-Mexico border
    • Underinsurance
    • Uninsurance

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Epidemiology
    • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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