title: [Health Status of Persons without Health Insurance and of Undocumented Migrants: Analysis of Data from the Malteser Migranten Medizin (MMM) in Munich, Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is estimated that more than 100,000 persons are without health insurance in Germany. The number of undocumented migrants is roughly estimated to be about 40,000. There are hardly any empirical studies looking at health care provision for these population groups, it is even rarely stressed that more empirical studies are needed. There seems to be a major gap concerning perception and research. The present study aims at promoting this discussion by presenting analyses based on data from an institution providing health care for these population groups, i. e., the Malteser Migranten Medizin (MMM) in Munich.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were available from all patients coming to MMM between January 2009 and October 2012 (i. e., from 2,352 visits altogether). The following information is available for each visit: date, sex, age group, country of origin, residence permit status (3 groups), diagnosis (ICD-10 chapter), type of health care (4 broad groups). Multivariate analyses have been conducted for simultaneous control of these variables. In order to compare these data with information from the general population, data from a large statutory sickness fund have been included as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Focusing first on the MMM patients, the analyses showed large differences concerning diagnoses by country of origin and by residence permit status. We were not able, however, to confirm the hypothesis that mental health problems are especially common among undocumented migrants. The comparison with the general population indicated, surprisingly, that MMM patients showed a very similar spectrum of diagnoses as compared with the general population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data from MMM do not allow a precise assessment of health care need, they still indicate, though, how different the patients are who seek help. MMM offers a broad range of health care, but it is hardly possible to meet the manifold demands of all the patients; there is no psychotherapist, for example. The resources available at MMM will always just allow a very limited provision of health care. It would be important to promote the integration of persons without health insurance and for undocumented migrants into the general system of statutory sickness funds.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie und Management im Gesundheitswesen, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg.
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lotty
authors.affiliation: Malteser Migranten Medizin, Malteser Hilfsdienst e.V., München.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hämmerling
authors.affiliation: Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie und Management im Gesundheitswesen, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mielck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D064890:Social Determinants of Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D000069756:Undocumented Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult