They don't seek preventative care and pregnant women don't get prenatal care. Due to the complex nature of immigration laws, many immigrants have long-standing fears that they or family members will be deported if they seek subsidized health care, nutrition or housing, she said. The Clinton administration made it clear that it was safe for immigrants to use programs that do not provide cash income maintenance such as Medicare, Medi-Cal, food stamps or other such programs without affecting immigration status.
SFSU study shows low-income pregnant women afraid to seek medical care.
This was an important policy action for immigrant and advocacy organizations. The researchers conducted focus groups and telephone interviews between August and December 2000 with nearly 100 doctors, nurses, outreach workers and other health care providers in San Francisco, Fresno and San Diego who work with low-income pregnant immigrant women. As a result, both illegal and legal immigrants often avoid using the health care system because they fear retribution in terms of their immigratio n status and naturalization process. Access to prenatal care and other health services increased with the Clinton clarification. The time completing the Medi-Cal application and lengthy approval process keeps some immigrants from enrolling.