Access to Health Care among Mexican Migrants and Immigrants: A Comparison across Migration Phases

Objectives. We examined differences in, and factors associated with, access to health services among Mexican im/migrants to the U.S. across migration phases, including pre-departure, destination, interception, and return. Methods. Using data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in Tijuana, Mexico (N = 1,541), we computed descriptive statistics and staged logistic regressions to estimate health care access indicators and factors associated with access to services. Results. Im/migrants at post-migration phases had lower likelihood of receiving health care and having a usual source of care, and higher rates of forgone care, than their counterparts at pre-departure. These differences were partly explained by length of migration phase, health insurance status, transportation barriers, and detention or imprisonment. Conclusions. Mexican im/migrants face challenges in accessing health services across the migration continuum, especially at post-migration phases. Binational efforts to provide affordable insurance coverage and reduce transportation limitations and incarceration could contribute to improving health care access among Mexican im/migrants.