After SB 1718, Immigrants in Florida Delay Healthcare, Survey Finds

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Key Takeaways

• SB 1718, signed in May 2023, mandates hospitals receiving Medicaid/CHIP funding collect patient immigration status, causing widespread fear.
• 7-8% of patients declined to disclose status; mixed-status families especially avoid care, risking health and emergency services access.
• SB 1718 could cost Florida $12.6 billion in its first year due to labor shortages and reduced economic activity.

A recent survey highlights a concerning trend in Florida (🇺🇸): immigrants, including U.S. citizens within immigrant families, are increasingly hesitant to seek health care. This shift, linked to the passage of stringent immigration laws such as SB 1718, has sparked fears of long-term public health and economic impacts on the state’s vulnerable populations.

SB 1718 and Its Requirements

After SB 1718, Immigrants in Florida Delay Healthcare, Survey Finds

In May 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1718 into law. Among its various provisions, the law requires hospitals that receive Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funding to collect data on their patients’ immigration status. While the law specifies that providing this information won’t influence care or lead to immigration reports, it has caused widespread concern within immigrant communities. Many fear the perceived risks of disclosing immigration status, despite assurances that this information is only collected for reporting purposes.

Within just months of its implementation, the effects of the law were apparent. Reports from June through December 2023 showed that fewer than 1% of hospital admissions and emergency visits involved patients identifying as “not lawfully present.” However, a significant portion—7% to 8% of patients—declined to answer questions about their status, raising concerns that undocumented immigrants and mixed-status families may be avoiding hospitals altogether. This avoidance could have serious consequences for both individual health and public safety, particularly during medical emergencies.

Healthcare groups like the American Medical Association have raised concerns about such policies. They recommend avoiding any record of patients’ immigration status out of fear that it discourages people from accessing medical care. Their stance reflects a broader worry among public health advocates: that laws like SB 1718 may create a ripple effect, even impacting legal immigrants and U.S. citizens hesitant to visit healthcare providers due to family-related immigration fears.

Mixed-Status Families Are Hit Hardest

The chilling effects of SB 1718 are not limited to undocumented immigrants. Families with mixed immigration statuses feel the brunt of the new policies. These households, where lawfully present or U.S.-born citizens often live alongside undocumented family members, are particularly vulnerable. Research shows that approximately 17% of children in Florida live in families with at least one noncitizen parent—equating to over 740,000 children. These children, many of whom are American citizens, seem to face barriers to accessing essential services like healthcare, due to their families’ fears.

A noticeable indicator of this chilling effect is the reduction in Florida’s Emergency Medicaid expenses following the law’s passage. By definition, Emergency Medicaid covers costs for critical situations, such as labor and delivery for pregnant individuals. If fewer people are using these services, it could point to immigrants skipping necessary medical care even during high-risk situations. Experts warn that this hesitation to seek care exposes vulnerable populations to worsening health outcomes, ultimately driving up costs in the long run if untreated illnesses lead to more severe complications.

Economic Impacts Parallel Public Health Challenges

The effects of SB 1718 extend beyond healthcare. Florida’s economy, particularly industries reliant on immigrant workers, appears to be feeling the strain. Immigrants comprise approximately 12% of Florida’s nonelderly adult workforce, and their roles are concentrated in critical fields like agriculture, food services, and construction. Reports from these industries suggest that they’ve faced significant challenges since the law took effect. In agriculture, for example, farmers point to labor shortages as employees leave their jobs out of fear of enforcement crackdowns. Similarly, construction sites have reportedly been abandoned, leaving projects incomplete and jeopardizing business profits.

In 2023, the Florida Policy Institute estimated that SB 1718 could potentially cost the state over $12.6 billion within its first year of implementation. This figure encompasses losses tied to labor shortages and reduced economic activity, among other factors. With concerns rising about long-term impacts, businesses and advocacy groups alike are urging policymakers to reconsider the broader consequences of tightening immigration policies.

Additional Measures Raise More Questions

Governor Ron DeSantis has not slowed down in his approach to immigration enforcement. Looking ahead to Florida’s Special Legislative Session in January 2025, new proposals aim to ramp up state participation in programs like 287(g), which enables local law enforcement to assist in federal immigration arrests. Other measures include increasing legal penalties for those who facilitate the illegal entry of undocumented immigrants and repealing in-state college tuition for undocumented students.

These proposals are likely to escalate existing fears among immigrants and their families. Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida argue that policies like SB 1718 target many areas of immigrants’ lives—be it healthcare, education, or basic mobility—and make them feel unwelcome in a state that many once viewed as a welcoming place. The ACLU warns that these restrictions disproportionately harm immigrant families who rely on these services for survival and advancement.

Why the Public Health Concerns Matter to Everyone

The reluctance to seek medical care doesn’t just harm immigrants. Public health advocates point out that when any group avoids necessary treatments, it increases the risk of spreading communicable diseases and other health crises. For example, vaccines and preventative medicine rely on broad participation to protect entire communities from outbreaks. When some individuals, particularly those with limited healthcare access, avoid doctors altogether, the health of the wider population faces risks.

Additionally, reduced healthcare access can strain Florida’s economy. Healthier workers are generally more productive; when people delay treatment out of fear, it can lead to prolonged illnesses or disabilities, keeping them out of the workforce. Immigrant workers, particularly in industries like agriculture and construction, are vital to Florida’s economy. If their access to care is limited, their absence could impact business operations on a larger scale.

Efforts to Mitigate the Damage

In light of these challenges, some steps have been taken to support immigrants in Florida. For instance, bipartisan initiatives in 2024 focused on employing foreign-trained medical professionals to address the state’s healthcare shortages. These programs aim to recognize the important contributions that immigrant workers make, not just to healthcare but to Florida’s economy as a whole.

However, advocates stress that targeted support programs may not be enough to offset the damage caused by widespread fear within immigrant communities. They say only broader conversations, rooted in a balance between enforcement and compassion, can address the full scope of the challenges posed by SB 1718 and similar measures.

The Road Ahead

As immigrant families in Florida continue to adapt to these changing conditions, the impacts of SB 1718 underline the complexity of immigration policy. From public health to labor shortages, the effects are far-reaching, touching areas central to everyday life. With plans for stricter immigration laws on the horizon, these issues are unlikely to fade soon. Community leaders, policymakers, and advocates must grapple with balancing enforcement goals against the basic need for essential services like healthcare.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com highlights how immigration policies often have unintended consequences on sectors like public health and the workforce. This holds true in Florida, where SB 1718 demonstrates how far-reaching the implications of anti-immigrant legislation can be. For those seeking further details about the state’s immigration enforcement laws, resources can be found on the official Florida Senate webpage.

Ultimately, whether Florida can mitigate these challenges depends on how policymakers address the intersection of enforcement, public health, and economic needs. As debates around immigration intensify, the experiences of Florida’s immigrant families serve as a critical reminder of the human stakes involved.

Learn Today

SB 1718 → A Florida law requiring hospitals to collect data on patients’ immigration status, sparking fears within immigrant communities.
Mixed-Status Families → Households with members of different immigration statuses, such as U.S.-born citizens living with undocumented relatives.
Emergency Medicaid → A public program that covers critical medical services, such as labor and delivery, for individuals without full Medicaid eligibility.
287(g) Program → A federal initiative allowing local law enforcement to collaborate with immigration authorities in detaining undocumented immigrants.
Chilling Effect → A deterrent phenomenon where individuals avoid certain actions, like seeking healthcare, due to fear of legal repercussions.

This Article in a Nutshell

Florida’s new immigration law, SB 1718, creates a chilling effect on healthcare access. Fearing data collection on immigration status, many immigrants, including U.S. citizens in mixed-status families, avoid medical care. This trend risks worsening public health and economic strain, highlighting the unintended consequences of stringent policies that impact entire communities.
— By VisaVerge.com