Latinos Comprise Growing Share of Uninsured Population

Latinos Comprise Growing Share of Uninsured Population

Cost Remains Major Problem for People who do Not Purchase Care

(Washington, DC) – According to a study recently released by the Commonwealth Fund, 24 million working-age adults were uninsured between February and April 2016. Of those 24 million uninsured adults, Latinos make up a growing share of the uninsured population – rising from 29 percent in 2013 to 40 percent in 2016. This is more than double the Hispanic share of the overall population. Among those who visited the health care marketplaces but who remained uninsured, 85 percent said it was because the cost was too great – demonstrating that affordability remains a major problem for the uninsured population. The study also found that a majority of uninsured Americans think they cannot afford coverage – even when they do qualify for subsidies or other government assistance.

Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative, released the following statement:

“The White House likes to tout how helpful the health care law has been for Latinos, and supporters of the law have always pressured Latinos to sign up, claiming they would be among the greatest beneficiaries. However, this program is failing, and the Hispanic community is being left in the dust. Insurance companies are withdrawing from an unprofitable and unsustainable program, and insurance cooperatives are failing at a shocking rate.

When the government attempted to overhaul health insurance in this country – putting itself in charge of decisions that were once made by doctors and patients – it stifled innovation and put the needs of patients behind the interests of politicians. There are growing problems with this law that the president has failed to even acknowledge. It is time policymakers faced reality, and fixed this flawed system.”

For Interviews with a representative from The LIBRE Initiative, please contact Brian Faughnan, 703-678-4581
 

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