Access to Health Care for Uninsured Migrants – Strategies for Community Advocacy

This project examines how uninsured migrant parents of babies born in Canada, and their supporters, navigate barriers to registering newborns for provincial health cards. “Uninsured migrants” refers to people who are ineligible for public insurance and lack private coverage or have insufficient coverage. Research shows that hospitals may refuse to register newborns when the mother is uninsured, and many parents avoid seeking care due to fears about exposing their immigration status (Bernhard, Young, & Goldring, 2025; Cheff & Bates, 2018). As a result, some newborns miss essential early care, and families face high out-of-pocket costs or delay care (Gagnon, 2026).
The Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC), a Montreal-based organization supporting workers with precarious immigration status, has identified growing challenges related to pregnancy, post-natal care, and newborn health card registration. In partnership with the McGill School of Social Work, this project will conduct a literature and policy review (Quebec and Ontario), interviews with 6 uninsured parents and 14 service providers, and develop an adaptable inventory of effective advocacy strategies to support cross-provincial learning and action.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jill Hanley

Student:

Partner:

Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Other services (except public administration)

University:

McGill University

Program: