| dc.description.abstract | This thesis examines the aspects of the health systems of both Mexico and the United States, including insurance types offered, average costs for users, and the availability of and access to healthcare services in each respective nation. In Mexico, public healthcare is the most popular option, with the majority of people using insurance provided by the nation's social security system or the universal healthcare program. Private healthcare is mostly used to supplement what public services cannot provide. In the U.S., private healthcare is more popular, with most people using health insurance provided by their employers. Public healthcare is reserved for the nation's more vulnerable groups, such as the poor, disabled, and elderly. This analysis is followed by a brief comparison of the aspects of the two systems, and their effects on their respective users. This thesis furthermore analyzes the overall experience of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. health system. Access to healthcare for Mexican immigrants (as well as immigrants of all nationalities) can be affected by factors such as citizenship status, migration status, and the characteristics of an immigrant's surrounding community. Potential barriers to receiving care include differences between immigrants and healthcare providers in language, cultural values, and expectations of care, as well as legal barriers imposed by U.S. legislation. Finally, this thesis makes several suggestions as to how the experience of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. health system may be improved, including ideas for social and legislative reformation in the U.S. | |
