Unaccompanied children do not qualify for health insurance in the majority of U.S. states. Exceptions include state-funded programs in California, Washington DC, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington State. Some cities and counties have their own discounted medical care programs, such as the Gold Card in Harris County, TX (Houston), and providers should become familiar with local resources available.

In states and jurisdictions where health insurance is not available, case managers and other providers working with unaccompanied children should help families identify local community health clinics that provide care to uninsured children at a low-cost or on a sliding-scale fee. 

The links below provide more detailed information on the health coverage available to immigrant children by state:

• State-Funded Affordable Health Coverage Programs for Immigrants (SHVS)
• Medical Assistance Programs in Various States (NILC)

The following resources provide helpful information on health topics related to Hispanic and Latino children and families. (Resources are from the CDC unless noted otherwise.)

General trends:

• Hispanic Health 
• Healthcare Disparities Among Hispanic Communities (HealthStream)

Preventative Care:

• Recommended Vaccinations for Infants and Children, Parent-Friendly Version (English and Spanish)

Common Health Conditions:

• Tuberculosis Basics and In Hispanic or Latino Persons 
• Hispanic or Latino People and Type 2 Diabetes 
• Childhood Overweight and Obesity
• Eating Disorders (NIH)
• COVID-19

For those children who do not qualify for health insurance in their state, the following resources may be helpful in finding affordable clinics and prescription medications:

• HRSA Health Center Programs service diverse medically underserved areas and populations, provide services regardless of patients’ ability to pay, and charge for services on a sliding fee scale – find a Health Center (HRSA)
• Find Free/Low-Cost/Sliding Scale Clinics (NeedyMeds)
• Discounted Prescriptions (GoodRx)
• $4 Prescriptions (Walmart)

If you are a healthcare provider looking to learn more about best practices and considerations for working with immigrant children, these resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are a great place to start:

• Immigrant Health Toolkit 
• Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Immigrant Children: Resources for Pediatricians
• Immigrant Child Health Webinars

Our UC Resource Center offers videos and handouts in Spanish for families on the topic of Medical Care and Prevention. Click the link to browse the resources and share them with your Spanish-speaking clients!

• Salud Física

Other resources:

• Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC website in Spanish)