Washington, DC – Yesterday, Sen. Cory Booker (NJ) introduced the Health Equity and Access under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Women and Families Act, the Senate companion to the bill Reps. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Deb Haaland (NM-01) introduced last year. The bill would allow certain immigrants to enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and permit undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance through the federal insurance marketplace.
Although the percentage of uninsured Southeast Asian Americans (SEAA) has decreased since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, SEAAs are still less likely to have health insurance than the average population. Fifteen percent of SEAAs are without health insurance, compared to 13% of the American public.
“SEARAC is proud to support the HEAL for Immigrant Women and Families Act,” said Quyen Dinh, executive director at SEARAC. “The pandemic has highlighted the longstanding need for all Americans to have equitable access to health insurance, including many Southeast Asian American immigrants. Congress must take bold steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone in this country.”
