In the United States, there is no national health service. Health insurance is most commonly provided through employment, but there are other options for getting health insurance as well. Without coverage, many will continue to turn to emergency departments and public hospitals, or defer care and experience adverse health outcomes. It is important—for both the uninsured and for a well-functioning healthcare system—to devise insurance options. If you hold refugee status you may qualify for the same health insurance benefits as U.S. citizens. During the first 8 months of arrival, you are eligible for Refugee Medical Assistance. After if you do not obtain insurance through employment you can buy through the Massachusetts marketplace Medicaid programs referred to as Masshealth which offers various types of coverage with different benefits based on age, income, health status and other factors. This page will cover health care rights and resources for refugees in Greater Boston for the following topics:
Refugee Medical Assistance
Within 8 months of arrival – Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) Refugees and asylees that have been granted asylum are entitled to short-term health insurance called Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) for up to 8 months from the date of arrival in the U.S., or the date of being granted asylum, or date of certification for trafficking victims. RMA funds enable refugees to complete a Refugee Medical Screening (RMS) upon arrival in the U.S., protecting public health and providing early health interventions. Find resources that can provide screening under the Early Care and Screening for New Arrivals section!
Eligibility for health Insurance
After 8 months of arrival – Qualified Immigrants If you are a refugee or have been granted political asylum or withholding of deportation status, you are considered a “qualified immigrant” for insurance purposes. Qualified immigrants can get the same health insurance benefits as citizens. You are a qualified immigrant if you:
Have been a legal permanent resident for 5 years, or more
Have had parole status for 5 years, or more
Are a refugee or have political asylum or withholding of deportation status
Are a victim of severe forms of trafficking
Are a victim of domestic violence
Guide to obtaining state/market health insurance
*In Massachusetts, open enrollment for plans on the Massachusetts Health Connector is from November 01, 2020 - January 23, 2021. This open enrollment timeframe only applies to Massachusetts. Depending on your income and if you have a change in your household (including marriage, having children, and more), you may be able to apply for health insurance outside of Open Enrollment – you can always check in with the HelpLine for more information!
Apply for MassHealth, the Health Safety Net, or the Children's Medical Security Plan here Need help with your MassHealth insurance application? Click here to find assistance HelpLine at (800) 272-4232 For Answers To Your Health Insurance Questions Multilingual assistance in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Healthcare Resources
Early Care and Screening for New Arrivals As part of initial resettlement, refugees must be screened for communicable diseases and other health problems within 90 days of their entry into the U.S. Refugee Health Assessment services (RHAP) and The Refugee Preventive Health Program (RPH) provide medical screening and testing, immunizations, referral to local health clinics, preventive care treatment, and health education. The Refugee Health Assessment Program (RHAP) As part of initial resettlement, refugees must be screened for communicable diseases and other health problems within 90 days of their entry into the U.S. Refugee Health Assessment services (RHAP), provided through an Interagency Service Agreement between the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants (ORI) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), offers linguistically and culturally appropriate health assessment services which include: medical assessment and testing follow-up checkup immunizations referral to primary care Read more at: https://www.mass.gov/refugee-health-assessment-program-rhap
The Refugee Preventive Health Program (RPH) RPH is part of the Division of Refugee Assistance. This program supports medical screenings in accordance with the Revised Medical Screening Guidelines for Newly Arriving Refugees (per ORR State Letter 12-09) and follow-up activities to newly arriving refugees. States and state-alternative programs and their designated health agencies receive RPH funding. RPH supports the following health services:
Health screening for contagious diseases
Preventive care treatment
Health assessments for chronic and other health conditions
Interpreter services
Information and referral to local health centers/clinics and Medicaid providers
Follow-up services to ensure appropriate treatment
Refugee Health Promotion Program (RHPP): Provides on-going individual health care access assistance to the newest refugee arrivals, preventive health information to refugee communities, and cultural information to mainstream agencies.
Preventive and Primary Care Refugees have the same rights to primary care as other citizens. Because refugees may need different types of assistance due for example to past trauma or language barriers, there are several health clinics in the Greater Boston area that cater specifically to the refugee populations. These clinics can be a great first point of contact for further referrals as well. Many of these clinics provide assistance or referrals regarding mental health. For more information on mental health resources for this population, visit our mental health page. Family Van provides free health screenings and checkups, they will see anyone, insurance or no insurance, legal citizen or nonlegal citizen.Their mobile unit is on site in Boston neighborhoods every week! Find the weekly schedule of the Family Van here. Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights (BCRHHR) provides holistic health care coordinated with social services and legal aid for asylum seekers, refugees, survivors of torture, and their families. They will see individuals with or without health insurance. Specializes in the care of people who have experienced persecution in their homeland. They accept people with and without insurance and can help with medical and mental health services, as well as legal referrals and support groups.
Download their guide on health, legal, and social services, as well as life in Boston, and in the United States in general, here.
Provides comprehensive primary care services through regular check-ups, immunizations and screenings, as well as providing care for illnesses and injuries.
Will coordinate patient care if a patient needs to see a specialist for a more serious health issue.
Provides on-site interpreters and over the phone interpreters for more than 30 languages.
Has a Resource Map Finder for language classes, health clinics, employment training, and legal services in the Boston metropolitan area.
People who are new to Boston Medical Center should call at (617) 414-5612 to schedule a first appointment. Call for an appointment 617-414-1994
Women’s Health Women may have special health care needs related to contraception, pregnancy, etc. As the refugee population may need different types of assistance, due for example to past trauma or language barriers, or help with particular issues such as female genital cutting, there are several clinics in the Greater Boston area that cater specifically to the refugee women.
Boston Medical Center’s Refugee Women’s Health Clinic. Provides comprehensive and culturally sensitive women’s health services to refugee, asylum-seeking, and recent immigrant communities in the Greater Boston area. Services include:
Pregnancy and postpartum care
Annual check-ups
Gynecologic care
Contraception counseling
Surgical consultation
Medical affidavit writing for patients seeking asylum
No one is turned away because of lack of funds. We welcome people who may need support with health insurance and addressing transportation, food, and housing needs. The Refugee Women's Health Clinic has worked with patients from over 20 different countries. Interpreter services, both in person and phone, are available to patients in over 30 languages. Providers speak Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. African Women Health Center Brigham and Women’s Hospitalis the first and only African health practice in the United States that focuses on issues regarding female circumcision. Works to improve the health of refugee and immigrant women who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). The overall mission of the AWHC is to holistically improve the health of refugee and immigrant women who have undergone female genital cutting. It provides access, understanding and community to women who have long-term complications from this tradition and who seek reproductive health care. We speak numerous African languages and provide female interpreters when needed.
Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Nutrition Programis a nutrition program that provides free healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services, free of charge, to eligible Massachusetts families.
You can participate in WIC if you:
Live in Massachusetts
Have a nutritional need (WIC staff can help you determine this)
Are a child under 5, a new mom, or a pregnant or breastfeeding woman
Have a family income less than WIC guidelines
Contact them at: (800) 942-1007
The Boston Center for Refugee Health & Human Rightsspecializes in the care of people who have experienced persecution in their homeland. They accept people with and without insurance and can help with medical and mental health services, as well as legal referrals and support groups.
Download their guide on health, legal, and social services, as well as life in Boston, and in the United States in general, here.
ALL hospitals are required to provide translating services to patients that cannot speak English, regardless of status and free of charge. Hospitals in the city of Boston like Mass general or Boston Medical Center have at least 20+ different languages spoken in staff at all times, and if a certain language or translator is not available then the hospital will call the designated translator for the particular language. Smaller health care facilities like clinics will employ staff that resembles the population being served. For example, where there is a dense population of Haitians it is typical for the clinic in such area to be equipped with staff members to translate Creole, and French.
