A lack of medical coverage is hurting the quality of life for millions of people in America, and Latinos have been disproportionately affected. They are among the least likely to have health insurance, they are more likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanic white Americans and they are less likely to have routine medical examinations or get treatment for debilitating conditions, a disparity that was exacerbated during the Covid pandemic. That’s why improving access to health insurance is a major focus of the Hispanic Federation, an organization that supports Latino communities through education, advocacy and funding for other nonprofits.
In New York State, the organization has helped about 155,000 households enroll in free or low-cost health insurance coverage. Its program coordinators work with people who are longtime residents, as well as with immigrants who have recently arrived and speak little English. The health care system is already full of obstacles to coverage, not least navigating enrollment. Language barriers add yet another layer of complexity for those seeking care. The federation helps Latinos through these obstacles by guiding them through the process, and this work is supported by The New York Times Communities Fund.
The Hispanic Federation was founded in 1990 in New York City to serve the needs of the city’s Latino residents. Today it serves Hispanics nationally, and raising awareness about public health issues has long been a central effort. One initiative, created in 1995, helped to address the disproportionate spread of H.I.V. and AIDS in New York’s Latino communities in part by educating people about H.I.V. testing.
Latinos now make up more than 35 percent of uninsured adults in the city. The organization’s health initiatives help low-income families understand coverage and get access to prenatal care, treatment for chronic diseases, preventive care and other essential services. Without the Hispanic Federation’s work, many people would be less informed of the medical options available to them and less equipped to manage the challenges of getting and maintaining coverage.
Various entrenched social and economic issues hinder coverage among immigrants, according to a 2022 report by the Hispanic Federation. In addition to practical obstacles like language barriers and affordability, the report identified the fear of deportation and the stigma associated with conditions like mental illness, addiction and H.I.V.
Racial disparities also exacerbate the challenges of coverage for Hispanics. Research has found that Black and Latino adults in the process of renewing Medicaid coverage are more likely than white people to be asked to show proof of residency.
Health inequity is a complex and stubborn problem. In Latino communities, addressing it starts with the simple step of getting people over an initial language barrier. A donation to the Hispanic Federation will help an important community institution provide that hands-on guidance.
You can learn more about the beneficiary organizations and donate at nytcommunitiesfund.org. To donate by check, please make your check payable to New York Times Communities Fund and send to P.O. Box 5193, New York, N.Y. 10087.
The post A Key to Unlocking Better Health for Latinos appeared first on New York Times.
