Undocumented and Uninsured: Barriers to Affordable Care for Immigrant Populations

The ACA will significantly reduce the number of U.S. residents without health insurance and ensure appropriate access to health services, but the law specifically excludes one group from all its provisions: the approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in this country. Projections show the health reform law will have little impact on health insurance coverage for such individuals, and excluding them from coverage under the law will create new financial pressures on safety-net hospitals. This report includes information on the health status and health usage of undocumented immigrants and suggests policy alternatives that could improve their access to health care.