Uninsured Hispanics, how many and why?
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Hispanics represent the largest minority group in our country. Yet, this number is still relatively small as a percentage of our population. Under the numbers presented by our census department, it is approximately 17%. Yet, the number of Hispanics that are uninsured is above 33%. This is a very large number any way you look at it.
Another way is to say that out of the roughly 47 million uninsured Americans, more than 15 million are Hispanics, not counting many illegal immigrants. Why?
The answer is a bit more complex, but be assured that a piece of the answer has to do with the fact that there are not many (if any) carriers that cater to this growing group. This is to say that it has to do with more than just branding a carrier product in Spanish, but adhering to some of the specifics that this demographic group deems important.
Our healthcare industry is now being kicked, sworn at, and made culpable to a lot of our economic ills. Yet, if you look closer maybe part of the reason costs in the aggregate are so high are due in large part to Medicare and Medicaid. These are government run operations. Need I go on!
The Hispanic uninsured market is largely untapped and there is no reason for this other than just it has seemed to have sneaked up on our mainstream society.
Rudy Rivas | March 30th, 2009 at 4:21 am #
You bring up some valid points in your short description of a huge problem within the Hispanic population. The reality is that the last census in Ca. was taken in 2007, which yielded an astonishing one in three (33%) of hispanics were un-insured. Today I would feel confident is saying that those numbers are more like one in two (50%) or higher. I started the first Hispanic Health Insurance Agency in America during 1990, so I understand the dynamics working within the hispanic population. First we have apathy when it comes to obtaining wellness care, bottom line most hispanics don’t go into a physician for an annual physical or well-ness visits. I should know because within my own family, very few of us ever went to the Dr. (unless we were sick). It starts with an education of healthcare, the importance of eating correctly, the importance of obtaining annual physical examinations.
Hispanics are currently like a ship headed toward a big “Iceberg”, high incidence of HBP, and diabetes is left un-diagnosed, elevated BMI is leaving many Hispanics an uncertain future. I would like to see an education regarding healthcare start within the school systems, and I would also ask that we as a Nation start reaching out to Hispanics and educate all of them of the importance of diet and excercise, ultimately the bill will fall on all our shoulders to bare. Consider this, if such a huge percentage of hispanics are un-insured and when those folks go into the hospital for care- who is going to be left paying those bill? Guess what we are all going to pay those bills, hispanics and non-hispanics alike. Ultimately it is about saving peoples lives and creating a healthier society where we can all prosper and live.
Sincerely,
Rudy Lehder Rivas, President & CEO
http://www.HispanicHealthInsurance.com
Bukky Olaoye | April 6th, 2009 at 7:56 am #
Hi Rudy, you are so right about the need for the community (not just hispanics) to be informed about how to stay healthy.
It starts with educating ourselves and our community about the high need for prevention, what it means, how to get started and most importantly how to maintain the art of staying healthy, this way there will be less demand for the sky-high healthcare serivices thus allowing the law of demand and supply to regulate the rates.
Availability and affordability when it is needed? Now I think that is where companies and agencies like yours come in. What percentage of our community has access to healthcare? With people loosing their jobs and most of the time along with the insurnace coverage they had through such employments? COBRA, yes but is it affordable?
Bottom line we need to keep ourselves and our family as well as the community informed regarding wellness and preventive healthcare so that we can enjoy all that God has blessed us with.
Best regards,
Bukky Olaoye, CEO/Administrator