Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121625

David Warner, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, 2315 Red River St., Sid Richardson Hall, Unit 3, Austin, TX 78712-1536, 512-471-6277, David.Warner@mail.utexas.edu

There are a number of constraints on and needs for cross border health insurance coverage for immigrants and their families. The constraints include the fact that many immigrants cannot easily cross the border legally, that some states have made it difficult to include Mexican providers in HMO networks, and that government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for care abroad. At the same time many immigrant families include family members living in Mexico, cross border plans can be significantly less expensive and culturally appropriate and Medicare coverage in Mexico might be the one variable which would permit many to return to their home in retirement. This paper will discuss cross border health insurance plans which have developed in California, examine regulatory constraints that have slowed their development in much of the rest of the US Mexico border, and identify some policy options faced by policy makers in the US and Mexico.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the special barriers to health care access of Mexican immigrant families;
• Explain options for cross-border health insurance options to meet identified needs;
• Evaluate barriers to limitations of cross-border insurance plans..

Keywords: Immigrants, Health Care Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation