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Online Program

328607
Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Pakistani, and Vietnamese Americans


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 12:30 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Leah Cha, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Lauren Chi, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Tina Kantaria, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Thomas Le, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Maria Mindanao, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Jamal Yousuf, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Suhaila Khan, MD, PhD, National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP), San Francisco, CA
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Asian Americans are the fastest growing minority group in the United States, numbering 18.9 million people. This study investigated the population distribution of Asian Americans, specifically Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Pakistanis, and Vietnamese (e.g. the top five most-populated states, counties, cities), social determinants of health (e.g. education, income, language, nativity immigration, insurance status), and identified resources related to the ACA available for these population groups. This study reviewed 2013 1-year data from the American Community Survey and online in-language ACA resources from community-based, government, and private sector organizations.

These six ethnic groups have higher percentages of Limited English Proficiency (LEP), uninsurance, foreign-born individuals, and less than high school education compared to other racial groups (i.e. White, Black, Hispanic). These factors are barriers to accessing health insurance through ACA.

Aggregate data show that 14.5% of the US population, 12.9% Whites, 13.9% Asian Americans, and 28.4% Hispanics are uninsured. Disaggregate data show that 20.9% Pakistani and 20.5% Korean Americans are uninsured. However, Chinese Americans have the highest uninsured population in absolute numbers.

Language is a significant barrier to accessing health insurance through the ACA. LEP was reported by 30.6% Asian Americans, 32.3% Hispanics, compared to 47.9% Vietnamese and 40.1% Chinese Americans. Aggregate data show Asian Americans doing well in terms of education, however, 26.7% of Vietnamese and 17.3% of Chinese Americans have less than a high school diploma. 

Nativity status affects the likelihood of benefiting from government programs, having health insurance, and accessing quality care, as foreign-borns may be undocumented, non-US citizens, or Limited English Proficient. An overwhelming 58.2% Asian Americans are foreign born, compared to 13.1% of the US population, and 35.2% Hispanics.

It is critical to understand disparities and barriers to accessing ACA with both aggregate and disaggregate data.


Learning Areas:

Diversity and culture
Provision of health care to the public
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the population distribution of Asian Americans, specifically Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Pakistanis, and Vietnamese—top five states, counties, and cities where they are most concentrated. Discuss the importance of social determinants of health—e.g. socioeconomic, cultural, language, immigration, etc.— and those that affect Asian Americans disproportionately, with a focus on Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Pakistanis, and Vietnamese. Describe the link between social determinants of health and in-language resource need related to the Affordable Care Act available to Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Pakistanis, and Vietnamese in the 1st and 2nd enrollment periods. Demonstrate the cross-cultural comparisons, differences, and patterns among the different Asian American ethnic groups and other racial groups (i.e. White, Black, Hispanic, Native American)

Keyword(s): Asian Americans, Affordable Care Act

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an undergraduate Public Health research intern at UC Berkeley working with a cadre of five interns under the UC Berkeley Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program and National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians. Our research focuses on six ethnic groups—each intern representing one of the different groups—in an effort to understand the health disparities that each group faces due to the Affordable Care Act and the subsequent changes in health care.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3236.0: US Healthcare System and Asian American & Pacific Islander American Health