Stella M. Yu ^1*, Zhihuan J. Huang ², Michael D. Kogan ¹

¹ Maternal and Child Health Bureau
² Georgetown University, School of Nursing and Health Studies

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: syu{at}hrsa.gov.

	Abstract

Objectives. We examined the association between children’s state of residence and their access to health care among specific types of immigrant families: foreign-born children and parents, US-born children with 1 foreign-born parent, US-born children with both foreign-born parents, and nonimmigrant families.

Methods. We analyzed data from 12400 children from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health in the 6 states with the highest proportion of immigrants (California, Florida, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Texas).

Results. Multivariable analyses indicated that among foreign-born children, those living in California, Illinois, and Texas were more likely to lack access to health care compared with those living in New York. Among foreign-born children with 1 or 2 US-born parents, Texas children were most likely to lack health insurance. Within nonimmigrant families, children from California, Florida, and Texas had significantly more access and use problems.

Conclusions. Our findings document differential health care access and use among states for specific immigrant family types.

Key Words: Child and Adolescent Health, Immigration, Surveys