.jpg)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
October 24, 2013 Camila Gallardo
(305)215-4259
cgallardo@nclr.org
Eligibility concerns and language barriers on-going challenges identified by community groups working on the ground to help enroll Latinos in new health insurance plans
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, NCLR (National Council of La Raza) was joined by MHP of Weslaco, Texas, and Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center of Union City, Calif., two members of its vast national Affiliate Network, at an afternoon press briefing focused on Latino enrollment in the health insurance plans available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since the enactment of the ACA, NCLR has worked with the Obama administration and relevant agencies to help inform the 10.2 million Latinos who are eligible for coverage through the marketplaces about their options and help them enroll online before the March 31 deadline. Last week NCLR announced its own campaign, ¡Inscríbete!, to boost the work of community health groups serving as critical purveyors of information to a diverse Latino audience.
“As the most uninsured group in the nation, Latinos stand to benefit greatly from the opportunity to purchase quality health care, yet we also need to make sure that nothing stands in the way of health coverage. Latinos are acutely affected by obstacles such as a lack of information about requirements and eligibility and, for some, a language barrier that requires a more targeted outreach effort. That’s why NCLR is working closely with our network of nearly 300 Affiliate organizations in 41 states and Puerto Rico, half of whom are involved in health-related work, to get our community online and enrolled,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR.
NCLR has been engaged in multipronged efforts to shape implementation to maximize outcomes for Latino families. Efforts include collaboration with national partners to disseminate core eligibility and benefits information, such as this brochure created by NCLR and partner group Families USA. NCLR will amplify the capacity of its Affiliates by providing resources, including a series of webinars that identify and troubleshoot issues that hinder successful enrollment. It will also work with online and traditional Spanish-language media to get the word out about health insurance options. The interest in getting this information is evident; community partners distributing thousands of informational brochures ran out of materials within a few days.
“Using the promotores de salud (community health worker) model, today we will begin providing the community with navigator assistance in both fixed and rotating locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley, with an emphasis on reaching the hardest-to-reach members of our communities,” said Rachel Udow, Program Director, MHP. “Establishing a working group of organizations with a focus on providing marketplace outreach and assistance has been key to building a strong foundation for the ACA in our area. We’ve found that hosting group discussions and promoting activities geared toward informing our audience has helped us tie the content to our local context.”
Even with these efforts, Affiliates have reported questions about eligibility in mixed-status families, a lack of in-language information, technology barriers and questions about income and taxes as reasons why some Latinos have not lined up to enroll.
“We want our community to start enrolling—that’s why we are doing our part to ensure that their questions are answered early on in this process. Now is the time for Hispanics to take full advantage of the information available to consider their best options. We realize it is a decision that takes time and may require some deliberation. Health care is a critical building block for a better life; the more we can impress this upon our community and clarify any lingering reservations about the process, the sooner uninsured Latino families can enjoy the benefits of quality health care,” concluded Murguía.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
###