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Immigrant Health

Key Facts

Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants

As of 2023, there were 47.1 million immigrants residing in the U.S., including 22.4 million noncitizen immigrants and 24.7 million naturalized citizens, who each accounted for about 7% of the total population.

Noncitizen immigrants are more likely to be uninsured than citizens because they have more limited access to private coverage due to working in jobs that are less likely to provide health benefits. They also face eligibility restrictions for federally funded coverage options, including Medicaid, CHIP, the ACA marketplace and Medicare.

5 Key Facts About Immigrants and Medicaid

Children of Immigrants: Key Facts on Health Coverage and Care

Key Facts on Health Care Use and Costs Among Immigrants

The Role of Adult Children of Immigrants in the U.S. Health Care Workforce

Immigration Enforcement and Health

Potential Impacts of Mass Detention and Deportation Efforts on the Health and Well-Being of Immigrant Families

KFF focus groups with immigrant families during the first Trump administration found that restrictive immigration policies led to increased fears among immigrant families across immigration statuses. That had negative effects on health and well-being and led to reluctance to seek health care and enroll in programs for which lawfully present immigrants were eligible. Mass deportations could also negatively affect health care and other industries by depriving them of workers.

Recent State Actions Impacting Immigrants’ Access to State-Funded Health Coverage

Policy Bars Many Immigrants from a Broad Range of Federal Health and Social Supports

Key Facts on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Health Implications of Immigration Policies Under a Second Trump Administration

survey of immigrants

Health and Health Care Experiences of Immigrants: The 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants

A KFF-Los Angeles Times partnership survey of immigrant adults, released in September 2023, shows most feel they found a better life for their families in this country, but many also face economic hardships and discrimination.

This report, drawing upon the main survey findings, shows how these challenges extend to health care. Many immigrants have difficulty accessing and using health care in the U.S. due to higher uninsured rates, affordability challenges, linguistic and cultural barriers, and immigration-related fears. The survey also shows the difficulties immigrants face in obtaining health coverage and underscores the role of coverage in access to care.

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  • 5 Key Facts About Immigrants and Medicaid

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides five key facts on Medicaid and immigrants as context for understanding the potential impacts of policy changes under the Trump administration.

  • President Trump’s Recent Immigration Actions Could Affect Immigrant Families’ Health

    Quick Take

    President Trump has made a slew of immigration policy changes focused on restricting entry at the border and increasing interior enforcement efforts to support mass deportation…Previous KFF research provides a window into the likely health-related impacts of these actions. During the first Trump administration, restrictive immigration policies and increased enforcement activity led to increased fears among immigrant families across immigration statuses that had negative effects on health .

  • Title 42 and its Impact on Immigration and Migrant Families

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides an explanation of Title 42 and its application in border regions, the impact of Title 42 on border expulsions and the health and well-being of migrants during COVID-19, and a discussion of the potential implications of reinvoking Title 42 restrictions for immigration and the health of migrants.

  • Children of Immigrants: Key Facts on Health Coverage and Care

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides key data on socioeconomic characteristics and health coverage among children of immigrants based on KFF analysis of the American Community Survey data. It also examines potential implications of policies and actions that may be implemented by the incoming Trump administration.

  • Key Facts on Health Coverage of Immigrants

    Fact Sheet

    This fact sheet provides an overview of health coverage for immigrants based on data from the 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants, the largest nationally representative survey focused on immigrants and discusses potential implications of incoming Trump administration policies for coverage of immigrants.

  • President-Elect Trump May Again Invoke Title 42 to Restrict Immigration

    Quick Take

    Recent reports suggest President-elect Trump plans to reinvoke Title 42 public health restrictions to close the border between Mexico and the U.S upon taking office. Such action would restrict immigration to the U.S. under the rubric of public health protection.

  • How Pending Health-Related Lawsuits Could be Impacted by the Incoming Trump Administration

    Issue Brief

    This brief provides an overview of current lawsuits in health policy including preventive services, abortion care, gender affirming care, Medicare drug price negotiations, nursing home staffing rules, private coverage consumer protections, and protections and health coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients; how they may be affected by the incoming Trump administration; and the implications of their potential outcomes.