In this week’s White House weekly address, Cecilia Muñoz, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, discusses the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its impact on Latinos, urging them to sign up and to help others sign up for health care coverage.
In a Spanish language video, Muñoz, the highest-ranking Latino in the Obama Administration, urged Latinos to take advantage of the new healthcare reform law as it takes full effect, while educating their loved ones to do the same.
“Tell your friends and family to go to HealthCare.gov and CuidadoDeSalud.gov. Because here in America, health care isn’t a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. It’s a basic human right that everyone should enjoy,” Muñoz said.
President Obama’s landmark health care reform law made history Tuesday, as the government-run marketplaces opened for business and began enrolling what is expected to be 7 million Americans, including 2.7 million young and healthy consumers. Muñoz said that for the 10.2 Latino Americans who are currently uninsured, the exchanges are their chance to buy quality, affordable health care as everyone else.
About 8.2 million Latino Americans with private insurance have already been beneficiaries of preventive care services, including mammograms, physicals, and contraceptive care without high copays. Additionally, young adults can stay on their parents’ plans until they’re 26, allowing 913,000 young Latinos to remain covered under their parent’s health plan. Meanwhile, seniors on Medicare have saved hundreds of dollars on their prescription drug costs.
For more information about signing up, individuals can visit HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov. The open-enrollment period for insurance customers will last until March 31, 2014. Spanish speakers can also call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours, 7 days a week, for more information on how to enroll. Starting in mid-October, they can enroll online in a plan at CuidadoDeSalud.gov.
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