Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges to Closing the Health Care Gap for Immigrants

Priscilla Huang, Policy Director, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health ForumJanuary 23, 2014

Immigration Reform

Senate

• Passed “Border Security, Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act” (S. 744) on June 27, 2013 with 68-32 vote

House

• House Democratic leadership introduced H.R. 15 on October 2, 2013 (194 co-sponsors)

• Several piecemeal bills introduced by GOP and passed out of Judiciary or Homeland Security Committees – none yet with path to citizenship

The S. 744 & H.R. 15 Road Map to Citizenship

RPI application

• Year 1• $500 fine

+ fees

RPI renewal

• Year 6• $500 fine

+ fees

Green card application

• Year 10• $1000 fine• $1070 fees

U.S. citizen

• Year 13• $680 fees

Total:• 13 years • $3750 +

fees

Graphic produced by theNational Immigration Law Center

Other Legislative Opportunities

• Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA)

• Immigrant Women’s Health bill

Administrative Opportunities

• Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

• ACA rollout – Improved outreach to immigrant

communities–More streamlined verification systems– Increased language access and health

insurance literacy– Employer-sponsored coverage