Hispanics speak up: Where do Latinos stand on health-care reform?
Orlando Sentinel
Oct 28, 2009
Hispanic advocacy groups are trying to engage more Latinos in the health care reform debate before the proposed changes to the system are set in stone. As we had reported several weeks ago, activists were voicing concerns about the many Hispanics who could be potentially left out of health care plans.
Some of the initial concerns about legal immigrants facing too many restrictions were rendered moot when several amendments to the Senate Finance Committee's bill were defeated, but activists still worried that cost and immigration status restrictions will keep many from health care benefits.
Republicans in Florida, one of the states with the most diverse Hispanic communities, have noticed these concerns and see in them an opportunity to criticize the Obama administration and score points with the community.
The Republican Party of Florida issued a statement in Spanish today where it labeled proposed penalties, which would be leveled on the uninsured who don't buy insurance under the new plans, as new taxes. Those penalties, said the GOP statement, would impact Hispanics more at a time when they have seen wages decrease because of the economic downturn.
"President Obama seems determined to impose his government-managed health care reform on citizens without considering the consequences it would have," said Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, a Republican from South Florida.
His colleague, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, said reform plans could also hurt "many small businesses that are struggling to survive in the current recession," as she referred to provisions that would require those businesses making more than $350,000 a year to offer insurance.
At the same time, national advocacy groups are calling on Hispanics to share their stories in support of health care reform that would benefit more Latinos.
The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, an advocacy group based in New York City, was asking Latinas to call in their members of Congress today to express support for "a health care system that ensures everybody can access affordable, quality, culturally appropriate care over the course of their lifespan."
Likewise, a coalition of national, state and local Hispanic groups announced the launch of its Latinos United for Healthcare effort, saying it had set up a web site to make it easier for Hispanics to share their stories about health care needs.
Rosa Rosales, national president of the League of United Latin American Citizens said: “We are asking all our LULAC members visit web site today and share their personal stories of struggle with us... With one in three Latinos lacking health insurance it is important that we speak out for the passage of health care reform now.”
The idea, said Rosales, is to let Congress know now where the Latino community really stands on health care issues.