Immigration Status and Health Insurance Coverage: Who Gains? Who Loses?

PWP-CCPR-2004-006

Abstract

Objectives: This study compares health insurance transitions between non-immigrants and
immigrants.

Methods: We use multivariate survival analysis to examine gaining and losing insurance by
citizenship and legal status among adults using the Los Angeles Family and Neighborhood Survey.

Results: There are significant differences by citizenship and legal status in health insurance
transitions. Undocumented immigrants are less likely to gain and more likely to lose insurance
than the native born. Legal residents are less likely to gain and border on being more likely to
lose insurance than the native born. Naturalized citizens do not differ from the native born.

Conclusions: Previous studies have not examined health insurance transitions by citizenship and
legal status. Policies to increase coverage should consider the different experiences of immigrant
groups.