March 31 is the last day that Latinos can enroll in Obamacare during its first term of enrollment. With two weeks left, have you registered? I applaud those who have registered, but for those who have not, my question to them is, why not?
The law offers health coverage to more than 10.2 million Latinos who would not have the option otherwise. It offers a sense of tranquility, peace and security if anything were to happen to us or our families.
Even people who have a serious condition can get coverage. One of the most remarkable things about the law is that insurance cannot be denied to anyone if they have any pre-existing condition. Thanks to the law, nearly 6 in 10 people in the U.S. currently without health insurance can get coverage for less than $100 a month. That is cheaper than many cellular bills, nowadays.
Thanks to Obamacare, the days where insurance companies were in control of our health, and millions of people were at risk of paying higher premiums or even having their coverage removed just for getting sick is something of the past.
In terms of health, Latinos are at high risk for diseases such as prostate and breast cancer, according to a study by the American Cancer Society. Furthermore, Latinos also suffer higher levels of diabetes as well as heart disease. Nobody can say that our community does not need or will not benefit from this law.
As a result of these risks and many other ones, it is important now more than ever that our community receives the health coverage needed to protect themselves.
Latinos must not allow anyone to intimidate them with false information about how they will be affected by this law. The best way to find the truth is to go to www.healthcare.gov, and see with their own eyes all the benefits the law provides.
Even for many in our community, Obamacare provides eligibility for free or discounted monthly premium options.
Young Latinos must also enroll in Obamacare. Although many young people tend to think they are invincible, young people are just one car accident, a fall on the basketball court, or even a chronic disease away from them or their families facing bankruptcy.
As a result, young people must be protected. Thanks to Obamacare, young people can have peace of mind and safety while studying in college or starting their first job. For a young person, the average monthly premium is only $50.
Obamacare also allows young people who are under 26 years of age to be covered and stay under their parent’s insurance plans.
In these final weeks that are left to enroll in a plan through the marketplace, Latinos must work together to ensure that our family, friends and the rest of our community register before March 31. Only then will we all have peace of mind knowing our community has the care needed to have a chance to achieve our dreams.
This piece originally appeared in Spanish in the Washington Hispanic
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