Health Reform Public Health 

Latinos and health care reform

Partner: 
La Opinión
Summary: 

California's Latinos have by far the biggest stake in the future of health reform, accounting for more than half of the uninsured population that will be newly eligible for its publicly funded medical coverage. Even after deducting undocumented immigrants, who are excluded, approximately 2.1 million of the 3.9 million uninsured people eligible statewide are Latino, according to a recent study. If the new law clears the political and legal hurdles it faces to become a functional medical system by its 2014 full- implementation date, experts believe it could transform the long-suffering health profile of California’s Latino community. If repealed, advocates say, the state’s Latinos could be relegated to a perpetual state of limited medical access.

Results
California Latinos big winners in health reform
John Gonzales and Yurina Rico | January 30, 2011
In the two years since Maria Elena Núñez lost her health coverage, she has begun limping through stinging foot pain – a symptom of the diabetes that killed her father, debilitates her sister, and is found disproportionately among Latinos. “It feels like I have needles on my heels,” Núñez, 49, said during an interview at her tidy Lynwood home where generic ibuprofen and rubbing alcohol treat her ailment. The homemaker, originally from Jalisco, Mexico, lost her Medi-Cal coverage after her husband worked just enough overtime to nudge the family $50 above the maximum income allowed for the federally funded benefit, which is called Medicaid in other states.
Read More
Results
Who Qualifies
John Gonzales and Yurina Rico | January 30, 2011
Latinos are by far the largest single group affected by health reform in California – even after subtracting undocumented immigrants who are excluded from all major provisions of reform and a segment of legal permanent residents who may be excluded from Medi-Cal.  Of the 3.9 million Californians who will newly qualify benefits, more than 2.1 million will be Latino, according to research by the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network. Who qualifies for what?
Read More
Results
Health reform timeline
John Gonzales and Yurina Rico | January 30, 2011
The federal Affordable Care Act, major health reform legislation passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in March 2010, will be rolled out over the next three years to increase access to medical care.   Many important benefits have begun, including cost savings for families, seniors, small businesses, and coverage options for many who have been locked out of the insurance market because of a preexisting medical condition. The largest measures are scheduled for implementation in 2014. Here is a look at what has already been implemented and what is coming: 2010 President Obama signs Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: March 23, 2010.
Read More
Results
Photo Slideshow: Francisca Rivas
Lauren M. Whaley, CHCF Center for Health Reporting | January 30, 2011
Read More
Results
Graph: Eligible for Subsidies and Medi-Cal by Race/Ethnicity
John Gonzales and Yurina Rico | January 30, 2011
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute. March 2010.
Read More
Results
Invisible electorate? Reform impact on Latinos goes unnoticed
John Gonzales and Yurina Rico | January 31, 2011
Latino voters were never as important to Democratic Congressman Jim Costa as they were in November -- when they enabled him to survive a drumbeat of Republican electoral victories across the United States. Costa’s relieved victory speech specifically thanked Latino mayors and businessmen in his San Joaquin Valley district for wringing out a 3,050-vote win over Tea Party-affiliated Republican Andy Vidak. Latinos are 63 percent of the district’s population, according to the U.S. Census.
Read More
Results
Chart: Growth of Latino registered voters compared to other ethnic groups the U.S.
John Gonzales and Yurina Rico | January 31, 2011
Read More
Results
Politico features Latino health reform story
Center Staff | January 31, 2011
National news site Politico published senior writer John Gonzales' story on how the 48 million Latino residents of the U.S. have a great deal to gain from the federal health reform law. Read "Reform holds huge gains for Latinos."
Read More