Immigrant Health Status: Healthcare issues for the twenty-first century

United States (US) in the last quarter century has experienced a wave of immigrants who need to be understood at least from three interrelated perspectives: i) cultural, as most of the immigrants in this period are from non-European nations and join the expanding groups of minorities; ii) their current access to healthcare; and iii) their future healthcare needs. This paper, through empirical analysis of available data, addresses these three perspectives with a focus on providing guidance for future health policy that would impact these recent immigrants.

Leading Health Indicators (LHIs) from Healthy People 2010 will be used to draw parallels in term of health status of immigrant groups and those of the majority groups in the US. Based on the findings, demographic trends, and disease trends, projections will be made regarding the future healthcare needs of these population groups. The role of culture in the diagnosis of disease conditions and their management will be highlighted through examples. The need for culturally appropriate care and the anticipated healthcare needs in the next decades will be emphasized.