Report: Latino Outreach Crucial to Success of Second Health Care Open Enrollment

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New PictureBilingual materials, the availability of navigators, and community outreach to answer questions about deadlines, eligibility and financial help would improve Latino participation in enrolling in or renewing health insurance under the second year of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a report by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR).

The second ACA open enrollment began Nov. 15, 2014, and ends Feb. 15, 2015.

Information and enrollment applications are available at www.HealthCare.gov and www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov or by calling 1-800-318-2596.

Also learn more at a #SaludTues Tweetchat on insurance at 1 p.m. ET Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Census data shows the number of uninsured Latinos declined slightly, but other data show Latinos were still 23% uninsured after the first year of the ACA.

NCLR reports that Latino participation can be complicated for families who have mixed immigration status or limited English proficiency.

About 81% of uninsured Latinos feel like they don’t know enough about the healthcare law, 66% do not know there is free in-person help for signing up, and 78% did not know that the health care law offered financial assistance or subsidies to help pay for their health plans, according to an Enroll America report.

“As we go into the second open enrollment period, we need to ensure that Latinos who enrolled last year stay covered and eligible Latinos who did not sign up for health insurance get covered,” said Delia Pompa of NCLR. “It is vital that the resources are in place to provide them with information about coverage options, costs and benefits and to ensure that there are trained bilingual navigators who can guide people through the process.”

The www.CuidadoDeSalud.gov website also has a great Spanish guide, De la Cobertura al Cuidado su Salud, that lists the eight steps to go from coverage to care.

Enroll America has English and Spanish websites to help individuals learn how to enroll, get answers to common questions, determine the estimated monthly cost of insurance using the Get Covered Calculator, view short videos explaining the Affordable Care Act, review a glossary of insurance terms, find someone who will help them to enroll, and more.

The IRS has Spanish information about the ACA’s tax provisions.

NCLR works with community organizations from the NCLR Affiliate Network that provide Latinos with information and assistance with ACA enrollment.

“The success of the Affordable Care Act hinges on connecting Latinos—who remain the most uninsured population in the nation—with coverage,” Pompa said.

By The Numbers By The Numbers

25.1

percent

of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage

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