Health care use among undocumented Latino immigrants - Is free health carethe main reason why Latinos come to the United States? A unique look at the facts.

Using data from a 1996/1997 survey of undocumented Latino immigrants in fou r sites, we examine reasons for coming to the United Stales, use of health care services, and participation in government programs. We find that undoc umented Latinos come to this country primarily for jobs. Their ambulatory h ealth care use is low compared with that of all Latinos and all persons nat ionally, and their rates of hospitalization are comparable except for hospi talization for childbirth. Almost half of married undocumented Latinos have a child who is a U.S. citizen, Excluding undocumented immigrants from rece iving government-funded health care services is unlikely to reduce the leve l of immigration and likely to affect the well-being of children who are U. S, citizens living in immigrant households.