When an immigrant comes to the Latin American Association on Buford Highway, they can expect to be taken care of.
“We’re the frontliners,” said Melisa Nichols, a program manager at the organization who helps families with their most immediate needs like food, shelter, clothing, and coordinates more services. “The majority of clients that come through our doors, are lower income, [they have] more barriers, per se.”
A huge part of that is healthcare, and the costs that come with it.
At least seven states are turning to taxpayer-funded health insurance programs that people can enroll in, including those living in the U.S. without authorization. California was the first to usher in this type of program in 2016, saying that it would lessen the financial burden on hospitals to care for uninsured patients.
That’s not the setup in Georgia. In many cases, immigrants here could qualify for emergency assistance, but the state largely relies on social service agencies like the LAA and others to fill in the gaps.
Nichols said that they help with everything from getting expecting mothers neonatal guidance to supporting people in need of emergency surgery, even if they don’t have health insurance.
“A lot of the times when they’re stretched, when they’re looking for food and basic needs, they’re not even thinking prevention – they’re thinking emergency,” she said.
“A lot of the times when they’re stretched, when they’re looking for food and basic needs, they’re not even thinking prevention – they’re thinking emergency.”
Melisa Nichols, The Latin American Association
Studies show those who are uninsured are less likely to receive preventative care, as compared to those with insurance.
In a state where approximately 30 percent of Latinos are uninsured, the cost of healthcare is a real concern, especially with rapidly rising costs of living. A recent poll shows Georgia’s Latinos ranked healthcare as a top issue.
So many in the community are looking for resources that they can afford.
“People may call us for referrals for sliding scale clinics,” Nichols explained.
One of those places is Good Samaritan Health (known as “Good Sam”), a healthcare organization that operates clinics across the Metro area and is growing and opening new sites. The clinics provide medical, dental, behavioral, nutrition and health education, as well as wellness services.
Good Sam serves nearly 35,000 patients annually, more than half of whom identified as Hispanic or Latino. The organization doesn’t ask for immigration status or authorization, and is a known resource for new arrivals to Atlanta.
Heather Kersey, Good Sam’s chief development officer, says that philanthropy funds operations.
“Our organization is about $5.5 million to run. The city can’t afford for us to go anywhere,” she said.
“Our organization is about $5.5 million to run. The city can’t afford for us to go anywhere.”
Heather Kersey, Good Samaritan Health
Back at the LAA, Nichols says that’s why it’s important to look at the bigger picture.
“They’re already facing barriers coming to us,” Nichols said.
If a client isn’t eligible for Medicaid, she explained, it’s harder for social workers to help – and this is an opportunity to look at how to care for an individual holistically.
“How about, if you’re eligible, we can help you with the rent this month [and] instead of paying the rent with this amount of money, maybe you can do a payment plan for that medical visit,” she rattled off an example.
The LAA believes in preventing a health emergency by connecting immigrants to resources can have a ripple effect. Currently, it is ramping up a new initiative: delivering a Spanish-language curriculum for diabetes prevention.
As Nichols works to roll out this next project, she has one piece of advice for anyone working to help close the gaps in healthcare.
“Make the community aware that the service is there; eliminating the barrier of accessing the service,” she said. “Go all the way with it.”
