Adelante con La Salud
Kenia Morales, Program Manager
Latinas/os represent 21 percent of the entire population in Colorado, the largest ethnic minority group in our state. Our community is exceptionally diverse ranging from 10th generation Coloradans to new Coloradans putting down roots for the first time. This year, our Hispanic Heritage Month theme is “Celebrating our Culture by Staying Healthy for Generations.”
For Latinas/os all over Colorado from the Front Range to the Four Corners, staying healthy continues to be one of the biggest challenges we face, which is why our community has the most to gain from Obamacare.
Presently, Latinas/os are the highest uninsured group in the United States. In fact, polling conducted by Adelante con La Salud and Latino Decisions found that 30% of all Latinas/os in Colorado lacked insurance at some point during the past 12 months. Happening now, thanks to Obamacare, more than 8.2 million Latinas/os, in the U.S, with existing coverage have access to expanded preventive services like cholesterol screenings and mammograms. Obamacare takes important steps to ensure that a record number of Latinas/os in Colorado have the opportunity to enroll in healthcare and stay healthy for generations.
For Latinas/os who currently DO NOT have health insurance, beginning this October 1st, a healthcare marketplace opens that will allow people to see all their healthcare options in one place! U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that Connect 4 Health Colorado will help 180,929 Coloradan Latinas/os by helping them understand their options in buying the right health coverage for themselves and their families. To help our community make sense of this law and the new changes we can expect, Adelante con La Salud has created our “How Health Insurance Works” infographic. Our infographic helps you understand how to pay for health care and the different types of health care coverage available.
Once people enroll in health insurance, the next step is using it! For the Latina/o community, this will be the first time many people will have formal healthcare coverage, which means that people will be learning to access preventive care and treatment beyond home-based, or homeopathic remedies. Many Latinas/os will not have to wait until their health condition is an emergency to be treated, and families will be able to get their prescribed medication, follow-up treatments and needed visits without fear of cost. Obamacare has the potential to impact the health status of our community by providing the resources needed for Latinas/os and their families to be healthy for generations and get the care they need when they need it.
This Hispanic Heritage Month let’s re-commit to taking the steps we need to lead healthier lives for generations to come.
Take charge of your health today so you and your family can stay health for generations! To learn more about Connect 4 Health Colorado, visit: 1- 855-PLANS-4-YOU (1-855-752-6749) or learn more online at http://www.connectforhealthco.com/.
To learn more about Adelante con La Salud, visit us online at Facebook.com/adelanteconlasalud