Alexandra C. Rivera-González (
Jim P. Stimpson is a professor in the Department of Health Management and Policy, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health.
Health Aff (Millwood). 2021 Jul;40(7):1117-1125. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2021.00049.
Puerto Rico is a US territory and a popular destination for Latino immigrants in the Caribbean. Even with few language and cultural barriers, however, many Latino immigrants in Puerto Rico are uninsured. Using data from the 2014-19 Puerto Rico Community Survey, we examined inequities in health insurance coverage for non-Puerto Rican Latinos ages 18-64 living in Puerto Rico according to citizenship status and Latino subgroup (Dominican, Cuban, Mexican, and other Latino). After controlling for potential confounders, we found that noncitizen Dominicans had a significantly lower probability of having any health insurance (57.2 percent) and having any private insurance (31.5 percent). Regardless of similarities in culture and language, Latino immigrants on the island, particularly Dominicans, experience major health insurance coverage inequities. Considering that Puerto Rico's immigration system is regulated by US federal statute, both federal and local policy makers should acknowledge and focus on reducing these immigrant disparities in health insurance coverage.
波多黎各是美国的一个领土，也是加勒比地区拉丁裔移民的热门目的地。然而，尽管语言和文化障碍很少，但波多黎各的许多拉丁裔移民仍然没有保险。利用 2014-19 年波多黎各社区调查的数据，我们根据公民身份和拉丁裔亚群（多米尼加人、古巴人、墨西哥人和其他拉丁裔人）研究了居住在波多黎各的 18-64 岁非波多黎各拉丁裔的医疗保险覆盖方面的不平等现象。在控制了潜在的混杂因素后，我们发现非公民多米尼加人的任何医疗保险（57.2%）和任何私人医疗保险（31.5%）的可能性明显较低。尽管文化和语言相似，但岛上的拉丁裔移民，特别是多米尼加人，在医疗保险覆盖方面存在重大不平等。考虑到波多黎各的移民制度受美国联邦法规的监管，联邦和地方政策制定者都应该承认并关注减少这些移民在医疗保险覆盖方面的差异。
