Five Things That Latinos Should Know About the Affordable Care Act

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Latinos have seen some of the biggest gains of any ethnic group under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), yet their uninsured rate remains higher than that of other groups. Enroll America and its partners are teaming up to encourage Latinos to take part in the ACA and obtain quality, affordable health insurance. Open enrollment for the ACA is currently underway and ends on January 31.

Enroll America is offering these five tips for Latino families about their health insurance options:

1. People with many different immigration statuses may be eligible to sign up: Both citizens and lawfully present non-citizens may be eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, and CHIP.
2. Non-eligible family members can apply on behalf of eligible dependents. For example, undocumented parents can apply on behalf of their eligible children. If you are applying for coverage for a dependent and not yourself, you will not be asked about your immigration status and information provided won’t be used for immigration enforcement purposes.
3. Several immigration documents can be used to verify immigration status on the health application, including: a “Green Card (I-551),” “Refugee Travel Document (I-571),” and “Employment Authorization Card (I-766).”
4. Free, in-person, culturally and linguistically appropriate assistance in a variety of languages is available. The operators of the enrollment number at the Health Insurance Marketplace speak 13 separate languages, including Spanish.
5. Financial help is available to lower health insurance premiums. For many low-income families, Medicaid provides free or low-cost coverage; enrollment is open year round.

The open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends on January 31. During this time, Texans are able to enter the Marketplace and select a plan that fits their needs and budget. Those who currently have coverage will also have an opportunity to shop for new options available and find the best plan.