This policy brief explores the unique hurdles that Wisconsin’s immigrant families face when trying to navigate America’s complex health care system. It also shares ideas for enhancing access so that everyone — regardless of their native tongue, citizenship status or financial means — can receive timely, frustration-free medical care.
For immigrant families in Wisconsin, visiting the doctor is a necessary, but sometimes daunting, task. Common barriers to care include language divides, cultural differences, financial hardship and citizenship status.
Just 9% of all Wisconsinites lacked health care coverage in 2009. This same statistic triples — to more than 30% — for the state’s foreign-born residents.
