Lacking access to healthcare coverage and facing exorbitant care expenses, immigrants throughout Maryland are unable to seek preventive and routine medical attention due to current prohibitions in the law. Consequently, many resort to over-the-counter remedies or home treatments to address their ailments. When these measures prove insufficient, they are reluctantly driven to seek care in emergency rooms, where they may receive limited treatment for their illnesses or encounter discrimination stemming from their immigration status and lack of insurance – not to mention race. Ultimately, they depart with the burden of their medical issues unattended to and saddled down by substantial emergency room bills.
Maryland’s immigrants have mobilized to change this. On February 23, 2024, their advocacy was fruitful as the Access to Care Act moved out of the House with a 101-34 vote and into the Senate. The Access to Care Act marks a pivotal shift: the bill, at no cost to the state, enables people, irrespective of their immigration status, to buy health insurance via the state’s healthcare exchange. The program can start as early as 2026 with the approved waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Dundalk mom Maria Peralta is a cancer survivor who leads her life without health insurance.
“I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer when I was only 32 years old,” shares Maria, the mom of two teenagers. “But even though I’m a survivor, it’s not over for me. I need routine checkups to monitor my cancer in case it reoccurs. For those who don’t know, triple negative breast cancer is more aggressive than most cancers, it’s harder to treat, and it’s more likely to come back.”
The current healthcare system in Maryland is not inclusive or considerate of immigrants. CASA members have demanded that the state provide better care for them by voting healthcare a top priority for legislative action.
“With no insurance, how can I get the care that I need? I haven’t been able to do the routine check ups that I need to and without insurance, I can’t get any reconstructive surgery. I have had to face symptoms alone and without relief. Stand with me and my children in advocating for advocating the Access to Care Act,” added Maria.
From Glen Burnie to Riverdale, Cherry Hill to Rockville, Hyattsville to Highlandtown, preventive medicine can be a reality for everyone in Maryland with the passage of the Access to Care Act.