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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
February 11, 2015 Julian Teixeira
jteixeira@nclr.org
(202) 776-1812
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Thousands of people participated yesterday in a tele-town hall hosted by NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and learned about enrolling in health coverage available under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The tele-town hall was held to encourage everyone eligible to sign up for a health plan before the ACA open enrollment deadline on Sunday, February 15.
The event speakers—Delia Pompa, Senior Vice President, Programs, NCLR; and Mayra Alvarez, Director, State Exchange Group, Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—emphasized that financial assistance is available to purchase an affordable plan, and free local support is available throughout the United States to help people understand their options and enroll. They urged people to visit www.HealthCare.gov and www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov or call (800) 318-2596 for information in English and Spanish.
“As an organization that represents the most uninsured community in the nation, NCLR has long advocated for quality, affordable and accessible health insurance and care for all Americans,” said Pompa. “My message to the community is don’t delay. Get covered by the February 15 deadline! The ACA holds great promise for Latinos, and we cannot miss out on this opportunity to take care of ourselves and our loved ones.”
Latinos stand to benefit significantly from new opportunities for quality, affordable health insurance. The speakers emphasized that with time running out to sign up for health plans by the February 15 deadline, it is critical that eligible individuals obtain information to understand their options and enroll.
The town hall was open to callers from across the country with questions about the enrollment process; a special effort was made to reach residents of Florida and Texas, states with two of the highest rates of uninsured Latinos. In addition, several of the evening’s questions focused on the Medicaid coverage gap due to the fact that many town hall participants reside in Florida and Texas—both of which have refused to expand Medicaid eligibility.
NCLR’s website has key enrollment resources and information available for those who have questions about the benefits and process of signing up for a health plan under the ACA. NCLR also will continue its work to advance Medicaid expansion, especially in Florida and Texas, where nearly one million Latinos are shut out of an opportunity for meaningful coverage.
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.
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