The Hidden Poor: Over Three-Quarters of a Million Older Californians Overlooked by Official Poverty Line.

More than three-quarters of a million (772,000) older Californians are among the "hidden poor"--older adults with incomes above the federal poverty line (FPL) but below a minimally decent standard of living as determined by the Elder Economic Security Standard™ Index (Elder Index) in 2011. This policy brief uses the most recent Elder Index calculations to document the wide discrepancy that exists between the FPL and the Elder Index. This study finds that the FPL significantly underestimates the number of economically insecure older adults who are unable to make ends meet. Yet, because many public assistance programs are aligned with the FPL, potentially hundreds of thousands of economically insecure older Californians are denied aid. The highest rates of the hidden poor among older adults are found among renters, Latinos, women, those who are raising grandchildren, and people in the oldest age groups. Raising the income and asset eligibility requirement thresholds for social support programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), housing, health care, and food assistance would help California's older hidden poor make ends meet.

Improving access to health care for undocumented immigrants in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To identify policies that increase access to health care for undocumented Mexican immigrants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four focus groups (n=34 participants) were conducted with uninsured Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles, California. The feasibility and desirability of different policy proposals for increasing access were discussed by each group. RESULTS: Respondents raised significant problems with policies including binational health insurance, expanded employer-provided health insurance, and telemedicine. The only solution with a consensus that the change would be feasible, result in improved access, and they had confidence in was expanded access to community health centers (CHC's). CONCLUSIONS: Given the limited access to most specialists at CHC's and the continued barriers to hospital care for those without health insurance, the most effective way of improving the complete range of health services to undocumented immigrants is through immigration reform that will bring these workers under the other health care reform provisions.

Improving access to health care for undocumented immigrants in the United States / Mejor acceso a la atención en salud para inmigrantes indocumentados en los Estados Unidos

Objective. To identify policies that increase access to health care for undocumented Mexican immigrants. Materials and methods. Four focus groups (n=34 participants) were conducted with uninsured Mexican immigrants in Los Angeles, California. The feasibility and desirability of different policy proposals for increasing access were discussed by each group. Results. Respondents raised significant problems with policies including binational health insurance, expanded employer-provided health insurance, and telemedicine. The only solution with a consensus that the change would be feasible, result in improved access, and they had confidence in was expanded access to community health centers (CHC's). Conclusions. Given the limited access to most specialists at CHC's and the continued barriers to hospital care for those without health insurance, the most effective way of improving the complete range of health services to undocumented immigrants is through immigration reform that will bring these workers under the other health care reform provisions.

Objetivo. Identificar políticas para mejorar el acceso a la salud en migrantes indocumentados mexicanos en los Estados Unidos. Material y métodos. Se realizaron cuatro grupos focales (34 participantes) con migrantes mexicanos sin seguro médico residentes de Los Ángeles, California. Se discutieron la factibilidad y pertinencia de varias propuestas de políticas de mejora en el acceso. Resultados. Los participantes identificaron limitaciones profundas con propuestas como seguro binacional de salud, expansión de seguro por medio de trabajo y programas de telemedicina. La única con consenso de factibilidad, accesibilidad y pertinencia fue el crecimiento de la red de centros a la atención de salud comunitaria (CHC por sus siglas en ingles). Conclusiones. Dado la escasez de especialistas en CHC y las barreras para acudir a hospitales cuando no cuentan con seguro médico en EUA, la manera más eficaz para mejorar acceso para migrantes indocumentados es por medio de una reforma de las leyes de migración.