Farmworker Justice’s Statement on the HEAL Immigrant Women & Families Act

Farmworker Justice applauds Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (NM) introduction of The Health Equity & Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Women & Families Act. The HEAL Immigrant Women & Families Act would reduce barriers to accessing healthcare for certain immigrant populations.

The HEAL Immigrant Women and Families Act restores access to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for all lawfully present immigrants who are otherwise eligible, by eliminating the five-year bar on enrollment and the outdated, restrictive list of “qualified" immigrants, established in 1996. It would also allow DREAMers who participate in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) to fully participate in the Affordable Care Act. Like other Americans, these young people pay taxes to support healthcare programs and it makes no sense to deny them coverage.

Farmworkers are particularly impacted by immigration-status restrictions on access to health care. The vast majority of farmworkers, around 70%, are immigrants. Most farmworkers have low incomes, no health insurance, and limited access to health care, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental and occupational health hazards. While there is little nationwide data, the information available shows lower health outcomes for farmworkers and their children, including elevated infant mortality rates, shorter life expectancy, and higher rates of infectious disease, tuberculosis, parasitic infection, and diarrhea than the national average.

According to 2010 – 2012 National Agricultural Worker Survey data, only 31% of farmworkers have health insurance and only 16% of farmworkers receive employer-provided insurance. The HEAL Immigrant Women & Families Act would help many hard-working immigrants, including farmworkers and their family members, have greater access to quality healthcare.  

Farmworker Justice applauds Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s (NM) introduction of The Health Equity & Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Women & Families Act. The HEAL Immigrant Women & Families Act would reduce barriers to accessing healthcare for certain immigrant populations.

The HEAL Immigrant Women and Families Act restores access to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for all lawfully present immigrants who are otherwise eligible, by eliminating the five-year bar on enrollment and the outdated, restrictive list of “qualified”  immigrants, established in 1996. It would also allow DREAMers who participate in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) to fully participate in the Affordable Care Act. Like other Americans, these young people pay taxes to support healthcare programs and it makes no sense to deny them coverage.

Farmworkers are particularly impacted by immigration-status restrictions on access to health care. The vast majority of farmworkers, around 70%, are immigrants. Most farmworkers have low incomes, no health insurance, and limited access to health care, making them particularly vulnerable to environmental and occupational health hazards. While there is little nationwide data, the information available shows lower health outcomes for farmworkers and their children, including elevated infant mortality rates, shorter life expectancy, and higher rates of infectious disease, tuberculosis, parasitic infection, and diarrhea than the national average.

According to 2010 – 2012 National Agricultural Worker Survey data, only 31% of farmworkers have health insurance and only 16% of farmworkers receive employer-provided insurance. The HEAL Immigrant Women & Families Act would help many hard-working immigrants, including farmworkers and their family members, have greater access to quality healthcare.