ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies the major health problems of Latinos, in light of both their economic and legal status. The growth of Latino poverty has become increasingly evident during the post-Reagan years. Latino men and women obtained some occupational upgrading during the 1980s. However, a relatively high proportion of Latino workers are employed in lower tiered, lower skilled, and lower paid occupations than the non-Latino work force. The concentration of Latinos in primarily service, blue-collar, and agricultural jobs has considerable implications for the overall health status of the group and the overall direct and indirect labor market health costs. Latino diversity not only makes it difficult to generalize about specific health problems facing Latinos, but also results in laws, such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act, having a disproportionate impact on newer Latino immigrants. Although Medicaid expansion does not offer the direct impact on employment as does the Massachusetts model, there are other impacts on Latinos.
