By Megan Randall
With the end of open enrollment rapidly approaching on March 31, the federal government and community groups are ramping up enrollment outreach to Latino communities across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with Enroll America and a host of additional community organizations, will host two Latino Enrollment summits in Texas during the month of March. The first will take place in El Paso on March 15, and the second will be in Dallas on March 22.
The enrollment opportunity for the Texas Latino community is significant. Hispanics are substantially over-represented amongst Texas’ uninsured population: Hispanics (of all races) comprise only 40% of the total Texas population but make up over 60% of the uninsured in Texas.
In February, HHS released a report indicating that approximately 10 million uninsured Latinos nationwide are eligible to shop for coverage in the new Health Insurance Marketplace – including 2.5 million in Texas alone. Many of these individuals and families, moreover, will find financial assistance available to them through the Marketplace. A family of four living in El Paso and making $50,000 a year, for example, could pay as little as $96 a month for coverage purchased through the Marketplace.
The goals of the enrollment summits are to connect community members with culturally and linguistically appropriate information on the Health Insurance Marketplace, provide onsite enrollment assistance, and empower consumers to share their stories about getting covered. Check out the resources below to learn more about these and other upcoming enrollment opportunities:
- The March 15th Latino Enrollment Summit, hosted by HHS and Enroll America, is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Centro San Vicente Alameda Clinic in El Paso.
- The March 22nd Latino Enrollment Summit, hosted by HHS, is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Sunset Hill High School in Dallas.
- Enroll America’s “Countdown to #GetCovered” Bus Tour begins March 11 in Houston before moving on to stops in McAllen, San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and Dallas. The bus will stop in McAllen at 10 a.m. on March 12th at the McAllen Library.
- The RGV Marketplace Assistance Working Group is holding several regional enrollment events throughout the month of March – on the 8, 15, 20, 21, and 25. See the events flyer in English and Spanish for more information.
Apply for healthcare coverage online at CuidadoDeSalud.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (translation services available).
Share your story at #OurSalud: Comparte Tu Historia.
Want More Data on the Uninsured in Texas? Check out CPPP’s most recent Health Insurance Chart Pack.