The Relationship Between Educational Attainment and Health Care Access and Use Among Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and U.S.–Mexico Migrants

Brent A. Langellier, Ana P. Martínez-Donate, J. Eduardo Gonzalez-Fagoaga, M. Gudelia Rangel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between educational attainment and health care access and use among Mexican-origin populations. Data from the 2012 Mexican National Health and Nutrition Study, the 2013 Project Migrante Health Care Access and Utilization Survey, and the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey were used to examine educational gradients in health insurance, medical home, and hospitalization among Mexicans in Mexico, northbound, southbound, and deported migrants, and U.S.-and foreign-born Mexican Americans. College graduates had greater odds of being insured relative to those with less than a high school degree among Mexicans (AOR = 1.48, p < 0.001), northbound migrants (AOR = 3.69, p < 0.001), and the foreign-born (AOR = 2.01, p < 0.01), and of having a medical home among Mexicans (AOR = 1.95, p < 0.001) and the foreign-born (AOR = 2.14, p < 0.05). Eliminating differences by educational attainment in the U.S. will require policy changes like making immigrants eligible for public insurance. In Mexico, it will require targeted outreach to enroll underserved populations in existing public insurance programs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)314-322
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume22
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2020

Keywords

  • Educational status
  • Health services accessibility
  • Healthcare disparities
  • Insurance, health
  • Mexican Americans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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