Uninsured Migrants: Mexican Reintegration and the Gendered Effects of Informality

Joshua Wassink, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Despite indications that Mexican return migrants have a lower rate of health insurance than non-migrants, research to date has drawn on unrepresentative samples and does not account for the recent creation of a universal health care program, Seguro Popular. Drawing on an analysis of the 2010 Mexican Census of Population and Housing this study indicates that a recent U.S. migration experience significantly reduces the odds of having health insurance coverage in Mexico. Separate model estimations reveal that the effect is stronger for women than men. Further, findings suggest that, despite the creation of Seguro Popular, occupational formality continues to mediate access to coverage. Among men, the migration experience does moderate the effect of formality. Given historic levels of return migration in recent years, and the significant mental and physical health challenges faced by many Mexican return migrants, these findings have important implications for Mexican health and reintegration policies.