Advocate for end-of-life care.

Of all the hospice patients in the United States, only 14% of enrollees are people of color (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). While communities of color and low-income communities face the brunt of COVID-19, they also face a myriad of hurdles when navigating and accessing end-of-life care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people of color are up to 2.8 times more likely to die from the virus, underscoring the importance of end-of-life and hospice care for this population (CDC).

Happy Wednesday, and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. With over 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19 in less than a year, along with the compounding impact of natural disasters and economic woes that threaten our wellbeing, end-of-life care should be prioritized and centered for all. However, there are clear disparities in the opportunities granted for ourselves to care for one another. Today, Kayla shares more on what we can do to change that.

This newsletter is a free resource and that's made possible by our paying subscribers. Consider giving $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website, PayPal, or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). You can also support us by joining our curated digital community. Thank you to all those that support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Advocate for hospice care using the advocacy resources provided by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
Encourage your elected officials to address disparities in end-of-life-care in Medicare and Medicaid.
Read Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal to learn more about the unnecessary suffering in America’s hospitals, hospice, nursing home systems.

GET EDUCATED

By Kayla Hui (she/her)

Hospice care is a service that provides professional caregiving and the coordination of care for people who have chosen to discontinue disease-fighting treatments (Mayo Clinic). Having access to hospice care, especially that which meets the cultural, physical, and social needs of the patient, can be all the difference between a painful versus dignified death. Unfortunately, humane hospice care is often inaccessible to low-income and BIPOC patients (The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine).

In the United States, there are two main public systems responsible for funding hospice care: Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is a government insurance program that serves people over sixty-five years of age and younger individuals with disabilities. Two million Medicare beneficiaries die every year representing roughly 80 percent of deaths in the U.S. (Kaiser Family Foundation). Meanwhile, Medicaid provides government insurance to low-income people, no matter their age (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services). Approximately 70,588,000 individuals were enrolled in the Medicaid program in 2020 and 44 million beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, making these systems some of the largest payers for hospice services (Medicaid, AARP).

But when public hospice care is underfunded, it disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities who are more likely to face greater disparities in end-of-life care (Journal of Palliative Medicine). That’s why some state’s stringent laws on eligibility are problematic. In Texas and Kentucky, only those with a life expectancy of six months or less are eligible for hospice care, and in New York, hospice patients only will be admitted if they have a life expectancy of one year (U.S. News). Other states, like Oklahoma and Louisiana, have excluded hospice coverage from their plans completely (Oklahoma Human Services, 4WWL).

Medicaid also is likely to be underfunded in facilities where Black patients are enrolled (JAMA Health Forum). Studies show that there are higher rates of disenrollment of hospice programs and more concerns about the quality of care and communication among Black patients (Journal of Palliative Medicine).

Other communities of color also face barriers when navigating end-of-life care. Over eleven million undocumented immigrants are not covered by the Medicare Hospice Benefit, and one in three hospice programs refuses to treat this population (JAMA Internal Medicine). This leaves undocumented people reliant on the exorbitant costs of emergency services which can drive up their costs for end-of-life care. These people are more likely to have fewer private insurance options due to nationality status (JAMA Health Forum).

Hospice and palliative care are inaccessible for Native people. Today, there are only fourteen tribal nursing homes still in operation that allow visitors and cultural practices such as greeting the sun every morning,a Navajo tradition, in end-of-life care (Indian Health Services). But in order for Native communities to provide hospice services under Medicaid, tribal health organizations have to meet a great number of logistical and bureaucratic requirements, which can serve as a deterrent.

When tribal health organizations are not able to meet these requirements, it leaves Native patients reliant on private or outside hospice programs that often are culturally insensitive to tribal end-of-life practices (JAMA Health Forum). Medicare and Medicaid need to make hospice certification accessible for such facilities. If the certification process was streamlined for Native-run hospice care organizations, it would allow these clinics to incorporate tribal practices into the fold of their work.

Hospice coverage under Medicare and Medicaid is systematically flawed and requires policy-level changes. If these programs made a concentrated effort to increase enrollment, not only would Medicare save $6,430 for each patient enrolled in hospice care, but increase the quality of life of patients, especially those who are vulnerable to COVID-19 (Indian Journal of Palliative Care, National Library of Medicine).

A successful end-of-life is one that delivers care at the right time and according to the patient's preferences. It is a system that values life and quality of life over money and profit. The folks nearing end-of-life deserve healthcare. The underfunding of Medicare and Medicaid disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities leaving them without health insurance, hospice care coverage, and access to culturally sensitive hospice programs. We need to push for investment in Medicare and Medicaid programs to better support marginalized people until the very end of their lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Medicare beneficiaries represent 80 percent of deaths in the U.S., underscoring the need to include hospice coverage within the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
While some states have made efforts to include hospice care under Medicaid and Medicare coverage, others have excluded it from funding, leaving low-income populations without care to navigate end-of-life.
The underfunding of Medicaid disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities leaving them without health insurance, hospice care coverage, and access to culturally sensitive hospice programs.

1/19/2021 | Advocate for universal healthcare.

11/4/2020 | Understand intergenerational trauma.

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Thank you for all your financial contributions! If you haven't already, consider making a monthly donation to this work. These funds will help me operationalize this work for greatest impact.

Subscribe on Patreon | Give one-time on PayPal | Venmo @nicoleacardoza

Nicole Cardoza 1/19/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/19/21

Advocate for universal healthcare.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, as many as 7.7 million workers had lost their jobs (Commonwealth Fund). Health insurance had left with, leaving millions of people uninsured during a global pandemic (Business Insider). Not only has the pandemic exposed the inequitable healthcare system, but has underscored the need for universal healthcare, or medicare, for all.

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. Today we're diving into the importance of universal healthcare, one of several political changes we'll be advocating for this month during the political shift.

As the inauguration nears, please be sure to take care of yourself and your community. Revisit our election safety plan and learn more about the priorities of community organizers where you live.

This newsletter is made possible by our subscribers. Consider subscribing for $7/month on Patreon. Or you can give one-time on our website, PayPal or Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). You can also support by joining our curated digital community.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Advocate for healthcare reform on social media.
Participate in elections at all levels by educating yourself about and voting for candidates that want health care for all.
Support and consider donating to organizations that are advocating for universal healthcare policies and reform such as Healthcare-NOW and Community Catalyst.

GET EDUCATED

By Kayla Hui (she/her)

Universal healthcare is a system that provides all people - regardless of financial need - access to health care services and resources such as preventative care, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care (World Health Organization). Over the past few decades, the United States has witnessed skyrocketing healthcare costs, which has prevented people from seeking or delaying care.

In 2018, the U.S. spent $3.6 trillion on healthcare, the highest of any other nation. These costs are expected to rise to $6.2 trillion by 2028 (Peter G. Peterson Foundation). Healthcare costs remain high because the U.S. relies on a free market where hospitals have the authority to set their prices. Because a free market relies on capitalism, when healthcare is in high demand, prices can surge. So access to medical care, especially during a pandemic, is strenuous, especially for those who can’t afford to see a doctor. “When a society is seriously concerned about its people having equitable access to care and about polling health risks efficiently, the free market is not a good choice,” Jui Fen, Rachel Lu, and William C. Hsiao state in an online article. (Health Affairs). The high healthcare costs – especially during a pandemic where a scarcity of resources exists – are what makes the U.S. healthcare system inequitable and systemically racist.

In 2019, BIPOC communities had the highest uninsured rates, leaving them vulnerable to existing health conditions prior to the pandemic (Kaiser Family Foundation). People who are uninsured are three times more likely than insured adults to say they have not had a doctor’s visit to discuss their health (Kaiser Family Foundation). They are also less likely to receive recommended screenings such as blood pressure, cholesterol, pap smears, mammograms, and colon cancer screenings (Kaiser Family Foundation). When a disease or health condition is left untreated, the health consequences can be dire especially for those with chronic illnesses.

When looking at the COVID-19 pandemic, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color have been disproportionately impacted (The COVID Tracking Project and Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research). Nationwide, Black people are dying at 1.7 times the rate of white people with Native and Hispanic and Latino people trailing not too far behind.

One of the main reasons why millions of people lost health insurance is because of a flaw in the system: employer-based insurance (EBI). EBI is a system where health insurance is tied to employment instead of being provided by the government. In the U.S., health is not a guaranteed right. Rather, it is a commodity, an “add on for an extra dollar” if you will expense, and only those most privileged to afford its exorbitant costs will reap the benefits and have healthier outcomes - preventative screenings to catch diseases early on, access to the medical care they need when they are sick, can afford to see a doctor any time of year, etc.

Historically, the use of preventative health services has been low, especially among BIPOC, the uninsured, and low-income communities (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). It’s not that people don’t want to get these screenings, it's that they can’t afford to. Nearly one in four people in the U.S. are skipping medical care because of the cost (CNBC). If the U.S. adopted preventative measures such as cancer screenings, approximately 100,000 lives could be saved each year (Center for Disease Control and Prevention).

So how did EBI come to be? In 1943, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that employer-based health care should be tax-free (National Public Radio). However, by the 1950s, after a decade of growth, the Eisenhower administration reserved tax-free status for employers only. Since then, employer contributions to health insurance would be tax-free. By the mid-1960s, people started to equate a good job with health care benefits. Thus, EBI was born.

This decision created a burdensome challenge when the pandemic forced a national shutdown, especially for those working jobs that require in-person contact. While grocery and essential workers were allowed to remain open through plexiglass installation and COVID-19 safety guidelines, other workers were not as lucky, including my parents (NPR). The banquet halls where my mother and grandmother worked, shut down indefinitely. Pre-pandemic, my mother and popo (grandmother in Chinese) would carry plates of catered food to hundreds of guests during proms, weddings, and business conferences. As those functions got canceled, so did my family’s health insurance.

“Dear Diane, the table below shows the last day you and/or your dependent(s) have healthcare coverage,” I read to my parents. While the letter was highly-anticipated, the gravity of our situation didn’t sink in until I processed what the lack of health insurance would mean for me and my family. Because my two sisters and I were dependents under our mother’s insurance, we too, had lost coverage, leaving five members in my immediate family without health insurance. I was most worried about my popo, who lives with chronic respiratory illness and asthma. The stress and uncertainty of our health insurance coverage doesn’t just affect my family but millions of BIPOC and low-income households.

In 2018, 66% of U.S. adults had stated that the cost of health insurance was a stressor for themselves and loved ones (American Psychological Association). If the U.S. adopted universal healthcare coverage, 137 million people would not have to face medical hardship, struggle to pay their medical bills, or incur medical debt (Medpage Today). In addition, the country would save 13% in national healthcare expenditures which totals $450 billion annually. (U.S. News). Patients would have the freedom to choose their doctors and hospitals without bearing the cost of high premiums, copayments, and deductibles.

Adopting universal health care would require a redesign of the U.S.health care payment infrastructure. It would require a mix of private insurance (for those who can afford it) and quality public services while weighing cost, access, quality, and equity (ProPublica). In the beginning of 2020, 43.4% of U.S. adults were inadequately insured (The Commonwealth Fund). While some argue that universal healthcare would look like medicare for all, we know that the current system we have does not work and the cost of human life is at stake without health insurance coverage.

The fight to expand healthcare for all has been a debate that predated COVID-19. In order to achieve “good” health, people must have access to the resources that will keep them healthy. Universal healthcare shouldn’t be a controversial issue because healthcare is a human right and it is the basis for which people can live and lead healthy and happier lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Employer-based insurance is a flawed component of the United States healthcare system, only benefiting those who are able to access “good” jobs.
By implementing universal healthcare in the U.S., everyone, regardless of financial status, would be offered essential healthcare services.
BIPOC and low-income communities bear the burden of disease and health disparities in the United States. They are more likely than white people to be uninsured.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 1/13/21 Nicole Cardoza 1/13/21

Honor Mahjong.

Barely a week into 2021, a Dallas-based company called The Mahjong Line was met with outrage on social media for appropriating mahjong, a Chinese tile-based game that dates back to the 1800s (Stanford News).

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to the Anti-Racism Daily. I appreciate your readership. I missed a lot of news during last week's insurrection at the Capitol, but not today's story. I emailed Kayla to see if she'd want to cover it, but turns out she had already sent us a pitch! We've written about cultural appropriation a few times on the newsletter, so keep those stories in mind as you read.

Also, yesterday we discussed abolishing the death penalty. Later that day, two executions scheduled for this week (Cory Johnson and Dustin John Higgs) have been halted by a federal judge.

Our work is made possible by our paid subscribers. You can financially contribute by making a one-time gift on our website or PayPal or subscribe for $7/month on Patreon. Thank you all for your support!

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Be a responsible consumer and shop at stores that do not appropriate mahjong and other cultures.
Learn about mahjong’s history and hand carved tiles here.
Educate yourself on why cultural appropriation is harmful here.
Support local businesses in Chinatowns - where mahjong is sold and played - by donating to either Send Chinatown Love or The Longevity Fund.

GET EDUCATED

By Kayla Hui (she/her)

Cultural appropriation is the act of using objects or elements of a non-dominant culture (when white people use objects, clothing, elements from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color) in a way that doesn’t respect the original meaning, give credit to the original source, or reinforces harmful stereotypes (Anti-Racism Daily).

Developed in the Qing Dynasty, the strategy-based game has been played and preserved by Chinese people for centuries. Mahjong consists of 144 tiles made up of three suits that have been carved with Chinese symbols. When Kate LaGere, co-founder of the company wanted to “refresh” the artwork of the traditional tiles because the designs were “all the same” and “did not mirror her style and personality,” she along with her two coworkers, Annie O’Grady and Bianca Watson gentrified the game. Rather than learn the Chinese numbers and symbols, the three white women replaced traditional Chinese glyphs with bubbles, thunderbolts, and bags of flour. By making the game palatable to a white gaze, they made the game harder to understand, and contributed to the erasure of Chinese culture and history.

On their website, they failed to mention and credit the game’s origins to the Qing Dynasty. And instead of giving proper credit to Chinese people, they attempted to justify their actions by differentiating between “American” mahjong and “Chinese” mahjong. In the 1920s, Joseph Babcock popularized mahjong in the states by creating new rules so that Americans could adapt (National Mahjongg League). Although variations of gameplay exist, any variation of mahjong is cultural appropriation because it neglects mahjong’s original rules. By placing the word American in front of mahjong, it creates an illusion that mahjong was created and developed in the United States.

If changing the Chinese glyphs and calling mahjong American wasn’t gentrified enough, people can choose which mahjong set they want to purchase based on a quiz that asks for the ideal vacation day and theme song, another classic example of minimizing the game and colonizing it to make the game more suitable for white people.

There are multiple reasons why the cultural appropriation of mahjong is harmful to the Chinese community. First, appropriation fails to acknowledge and give proper credit to the game’s roots. Failing to credit the game’s Chinese origins erases its history and cultural significance.

Secondly, appropriation “makes things cool for white people, but too ethnic for people of color” (Everyday Feminism). By using the words “refresh,” The Mahjong Line insinuated that mahjong needed rebranding in order for the game to be enjoyable or played. Words like “rebrand” and “refresh” are codes for gentrification and colonization and further erase the game's Chinese heritage.

The appropriation is further exacerbated when members of the dominant culture – white people – profit off of a culture that is not theirs. This causes harm to businesses of those appropriated communities. In choosing to sell exorbitant and appropriated mahjong sets, Kate, Annie, and Bianca have harmed Chinese businesses that have worked centuries to preserve the game’s craftsmanship. Although handcrafted mahjong is still being made today, the craft is dying due to the cheaper pricing of manufactured sets. By selling mahjong in the first place and upcharging these sets to $425, The Mahjong Line is contributing to cultural extinction.

For BIPOC communities, barriers like racism and xenophobia hamper their ability to earn income from their cultural items. For example, BIPOC may face language barriers or lack the institutional power to earn an income (Everyday Feminism). Because of white supremacy, white people exploit culture and turn culturally specific tools into profit.

Back in the 1920s and 30s, mahjong became culturally important in Chinatowns. It allowed Chinese people to form and build a community at a time when they were excluded because Americans saw them as “perpetual foreigners” (Stanford News).

When I saw mahjong - a game that has been a significant part of my identity, culture, and upbringing - gentrified, it rendered feelings of anger and frustration. Every year, my father’s side of the family hosts a family reunion, and there, I get to observe and play with my goomas (aunts in Chinese) and cow cows (uncles in Chinese). It is because of Chinese mahjong artisans that has allowed not only my family, but other Asian communities to play and enjoy mahjong today.

Deniers of appropriation will say that anyone can play or learn mahjong. The problem is not that the game cannot be enjoyed by everybody. The problem is that it cannot be sold, produced, and branded by just anyone, especially by groups of people from cultures where mahjong did not originate from.

Although the company issued an apology on their Instagram account on January 5, their attempt to apologize fell short. Rather than own up to their actions and apologize, their “we launched this company with pure intentions” was only an attempt to justify their actions. They also continued to use “American” in describing mahjong and failed to acknowledge or describe in any detail, steps to “rectify” the situation.

Toward the end of the company’s statement, the owners wrote, “we are always open to constructive criticism and are continuing to conduct conversations with those who can provide further insight to the game’s traditions and roots in both Chinese and American cultures.” Despite this comment, they have disabled their comments and mentions on Instagram, silencing the communities they harmed.

Kate, Annie, and Bianca were not alone in aiding in the appropriation. They had help from a branding company called Oh Brand Design and Plavidal Photography. Plavidol Photography has issued a formal apology on their Instagram and Oh Brand Design released a statement on their website and announced their terminated relationship with The Mahjong Line.

The appropriation perpetrated by The Mahjong Line adds to the long history of cultural appropriation that has been perpetuated in this country. We see this appropriation manifest itself in the form of sexualized “Indian and Asian” halloween costumes, non-Black people wearing braids or other protective hairstyles, white women wearing Indian saris, qipaos, and other traditional dresses to prom, and more (Centennial Beauty, BuzzFeed News, The Washington Post).

Mahjong is more than just a tile-game, it is the long standing symbol of Chinese culture and community. It is abundantly clear that through The Mahjong Line’s actions, they have contributed to further colonization and cultural erasure. As we continue into 2021, we must leave cultural gentrification behind and support Chinese mahjong artisans who have worked to preserve a tradition that has been around for generations.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Support Chinese mahjong retailers and artists working to preserve mahjong’s craftsmanship.
The Mahjong Line, a Dallas-based company owned by three white women appropriated and gentrified Chinese mahjong.
Using elements, objects, or practices of BIPOC communities in a way that doesn’t respect the original meaning or give credit to the original source is cultural appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is harmful to the community whose culture is being appropriated. It fails to give credit to the creator, reinforces negative stereotypes about a group, and allows white people to profit off a culture that is not theirs.

Related Issues

7/13/2020 | Respect the roots of Black hair.

7/16/2020 | Respect AAVE.

8/6/2020 | Don't do digital blackface.

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Nicole Cardoza 12/9/20 Nicole Cardoza 12/9/20

Amplify mental health resources for immigrants.

The COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn has affected people globally, immigrants are especially vulnerable. As they grapple with job loss, family death, stacking bills, eviction, health issues, and remote schooling and caregiving, immigrants’ mental health is being impacted by these conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Happy Thursday and welcome back! A new Gallup survey found that "Americans’ assessment of our mental health is 'worse than it has been at any point in the last two decades'" (NYTimes). Although we covered the intersection of COVID-19 and systemic oppression frequently, we haven't discussed its impact on our mental health. Kayla joins us today with her perspective on how we can amplify mental health resources for immigrants, who are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Thank you for all your messages alerting me that I didn't switch yesterday's Key Takeaways in the newsletter. My sincere apologies. They are correct on the web version of the newsletter. Usually, I make real-time edits where needed on the web version, found here: antiracismdaily.com/read.

Thank you for your generous support! Because of you, we can offer this newsletter free of charge and also pay our staff of writers and editors. Join in by making a one-time gift on ourwebsiteorPayPal, orsubscribe for $7/monthon Patreon. You can also Venmo (@nicoleacardoza). To subscribe, go toantiracismdaily.com.

Nicole

TAKE ACTION

Learn more about mental health resources for immigrants and refer immigrants to the resources from the Immigrant Learning Center’s list
Share this curated list of diverse and inclusive therapists (from InclusiveTherapists.com) that can meet the needs of immigrants
Check your local mental health organization for ways you can support and/or spread the word about their resources.
Have conversations with family members to destigmatize mental health. First, educate yourself about your own mental health situation. Second, explore what support systems you have, and lastly, if you feel comfortable, share with loved ones what you are experiencing.

GET EDUCATED

By Kayla Hui (she/her)

While every administration has dealt with immigration differently, the Trump Administration has gained its notorious reputation for separating kids at the border. A few weeks ago, Trump blocked the Justice Department from paying for mental health services for migrant families who had been separated at the border especially amid a global pandemic (NBC News).

For example, 14.3% of immigrant workers live in overcrowded housing, making it difficult to practice social distancing (Center for Immigration Studies). Immigrants and children born from immigrant parents are also more likely to experience food insecurity (PubMed). Coupled with COVID-19 stress, they are dealing with job and health insurance loss, hampering mental health access.

Common mental health issues include depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and psychiatric disorders related to exposure to war, violence, and torture (PubMed). A study found that immigrants were much less likely than nonimmigrants to utilize mental health services, especially among communities of color.

There are two types of barriers that hamper mental health access for immigrants, cultural and structural (PubMed). Cultural barriers include stigma, norms, and attitudes whereas structural barriers include factors such as costs, transportation, and discrimination.

When trying to seek mental health care, my sisters and I were always met with the same response: “You don’t need it. There’s nothing wrong with you.” Growing up in an uninsured immigrant household, stigmatization was just one of the barriers that prevented my family and I from seeking mental health services. When the pandemic hit, our mental health was hit hard. Some of my family members had lost their jobs, experienced stress from surmounting bills, and were socially isolated. I witnessed the repercussions of the pandemic on my family and knew that we weren't alone in experiencing these barriers to mental health access.

Oftentimes, access to mental health services can be seen as an extra or unnecessary expense especially in communities where stigma is prevalent, making it hard to justify its need to family members (The University of Chicago Press Journals). When mental health is left unmanaged, it can lead to physical health problems, homelessness, job instability, and suicide (Psychology Today).

In addition to the lack of health and mental health coverage for immigrants, language barriers persist in the mental health space. A study found an association between the under-utilization of psychiatric services with language proficiency (Psychiatry Online).

“What does this mean?” was a common question my grandmother would ask whenever we visited the doctors. Because English was my grandmother’s second language, I translated healthcare information in the doctor’s office from Cantonese to English so that she could understand. For many immigrants where English is not their Native language, understanding health information can be daunting. Therefore, there is a need for multilingual mental health providers who are culturally competent and can understand the mental health needs of immigrants.

Beyond cultural barriers, there are structural roadblocks including the lack of access to health insurance. Unfortunately, health insurance coverage for immigrants is a complex issue that predates the pandemic. Back in the 1940s, the United States federal government tied health insurance to employment by incentivizing employers to start offering health insurance to workers. As health insurance industry grew, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began chipping away at the tax-exempt status. To save the tax-exemption for employer-based insurance, the Eisenhower administration secured tax-exemption permanently. Thus, employer-based health insurance was born. (The Observer).

Health insurance access is even harder for undocumented immigrants, many of whom are not eligible to work jobs due to the racist and discriminatory nature of our employment and health system. Under federal programs such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid, undocumented immigrants are not eligible to receive those benefits, leaving the state of their mental health vulnerable (Health Insurance). Of the 44.8 million immigrants living in the United States, nearly 20% were uninsured in 2018 (Pew Research Center).

And this issue was exacerbated because of COVID-19. Between February and March, the number of unemployed immigrants increased by 30%, doubling the unemployment rate of U.S. born workers. (Migration Policy Institute). Because health insurance coverage is tied to employment, immigrants lost their health insurance and mental health coverage.

Federal programs are fueled by taxpayer dollars. It is disheartening to see how immigrants are not covered under some federal programs, despite undocumented immigrants paying a total of $11.7 billion in state and local taxes, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (Vox). Due to the 1996 welfare law, it categorized immigrants for eligibility for federal programs such as “qualified” and “not qualified” (National Immigration Law Center). The “qualified immigrant category includes people with green cards, refugees granted asylum, certain survivors of sex trafficking and abuse. For the “not qualified” category, those include undocumented individuals. Many federal benefit programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, non-emergency Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) leave immigrants out. And because health insurance coverage is not distributed equally, the health system was designed to only benefit a select few, leaving immigrants with worser mental health outcomes. Sadly, the United States does not provide universal healthcare for all.

When members of our community thrive, we all thrive. Immigrants are members of our community and their health should be a priority. We can support their mental health by destigmatizing it, supporting policies that shape health insurance access for immigrants, and support community organizations that are amplifying their mental health needs.

Mental health impacts every facet of our lives. It governs our daily actions and shapes our behavior. Therefore, access to affordable mental health should be prioritized and made available. Mental health is a human right.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting immigrants' mental health.
Cultural and structural barriers hamper immigrants mental health access (PubMed).
Albeit undocumented immigrants pay taxes, they aren’t protected or covered under federal programs like the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid programs

10/5/2020 | Protect undocumented Americans.

9/17/2020 | Abolish ICE.

8/10/2020 | Respect the relationship between name and identity.

ARCHIVES

Advocate for end-of-life care.

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Advocate for universal healthcare.

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Honor Mahjong.

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Related Issues

PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT

Amplify mental health resources for immigrants.

TAKE ACTION

GET EDUCATED

KEY TAKEAWAYS

RELATED ISSUES

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