(shallownation.com)
With the recent
pass of the Healthcare Bill in the House of Representatives, Latinos are becoming part of the discussion. In a recent provision in the Health Billby the Senate, included, barring any aid to illegal immigrants and would restrict assistance to immigrants residing legally in the U.S" (Burton, Houston Chronicle). This has many people in the Latino community in shock because the provision is a tactic for the Bill to appeal to conservative and moderate votes.
Yesenia Hampton, a Texas State University-San Marcos Latino student, said she thought a provision like this would have to happen in order for the Bill to be passed.
"This is just to gain support for the other side. I think it may be a knock to the Latino community, but you almost had to think it (the Bill) would never be passed if it included healthcare for illegal immigrants," Hampton said.
This recent provision may be even more of a blow to Latino organizations around the nation who are trying to make the Healthcare Bill their number one priority. After the recent pass by the House in Healthcare reform, Latino interest groups or groups that hold a good population of Latinos in the group are trying to make an effort to see the Senate isn't a stopping point for the Bill (Manley, U.S. Senate Documents).
(thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com)
With the Latino interest groups starting to back the plan, there is good reason why these groups think it is a key issue for Latinos. According to the Center for Reproductive Health Research and Policy, " 15 percent of Latinos report have difficulty receiving the health care they need; which is more likely than any other non-Latino family" (CRHRP, 2002).
The CRHRP also shows "Latino adults are much more likely to be uninsured than African-Americans and Whites. About 40 percent of Latino Adults are uninsured" (CRHRP, 2002). This falls in direct correlation with "25 percent of Latino children under the age of 18 who are uninsured; which is the most of any race" (CRHRP, 2002).
Abigail Vallejo, 28-year-old San Marcos resident, said she was without health insurance as a child and could see she was at a disadvantage.
"My cousins have health insurance and they pay $10 for medications when I have to pay $100 to $200," Vallejo said.
(blogs.nashvillescene.com)
Even though the numbers are bad for Latinos concerning health coverage, Vallejo said she wasn't ever concerned with it when she was growing up.
"I just never grew up really worried about healthcare. I just don’t know if the culture I grew up in is different or what? Just not too worried," Vallejo said. "I think most people I know seem to be content to where they are at. Trying to save money, even though it could help them, is the main priority.”
Vallejo is just one of many Latinos who grew up without health insurance. It's not exactly clear why Latinos shy away from topics such as these, but the statistics show that more Latinos should be informed. Obama's Health Bill will most likely change things for Latinos with the options that his plan provides. The more options the better. The question isn't whether having insurance is better, it's just how much of a priority is it to Latinos?
(babble.com)
Julie Gomez, at Texas State University-San Marcos ID services employee, said having health insurance was very important to have for the future.
"Especially that I have parents that are retired and with all the flu that’s going around," Gomez said.
Gomez also said that when it comes to Obama's plan, "they (Latinos) may not feel as hesitant to trust the government's plan versus the insurance companies."
Health insurance isn't always the number one priority when talking about bills that you have to pay. With student tuitions, loans, rent, car payments, having affordable health insurance is just almost out of the picture for most young adults.
Jesslyna Olivares, 20-year-old Texas State University-San Marcos student, says if it wasn't for her parents having her on insurance, things could get a little rough.
"My mom was switching jobs over the summer and there was a week period where we didn’t have health insurance and I got really sick. It made it a lot more expensive for me to get the medication I needed to get better," Olivares said.
Olivares also said it was important for something to happen now.
"I think everyone is starting to realize that something needs to get done since we have expensive healthcare and we’re one of the richest nations. I think the media has done a good job but there definitely needs to be more of an emphasis on it,” Olivares said.
(swamppolitics.com)
The power of the media can often shed light on a subject and give it legs to run, while often times the media can miss the real story.
Mayra Guevara, Texas State University-San Marcos student, said not only can the media do a better job, but they would have to relate better to Latinos to get education across.
"If there was a good way to communicate in their means, then yea, more Latino’s would probably go and get a health insurance plan,” Guevara said.
The hesitation among Latinos to get heath insurance is a problem for the United States. With the population of Latinos growing each day, affordable healthcare may be the answer.
(blogamole.mtvtr3s.com)
