Latino Obamacare Enrollment Keeping Pace

By April Dembosky

California's health insurance marketplace is holding steady in signing Latinos up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act: 28 percent of people who have enrolled in a plan so far this season are Latino, according to data released at Covered California’s board meeting on Thursday.

That’s exactly the same breakdown as last year, when the first open enrollment period closed. Latinos make up more than 60 percent of the uninsured population in California.

However, of the people who have started an application but haven't picked a plan, 50 percent are Latino.

“This really demonstrates that our investments in Spanish-language advertising, our investments in storefronts, and outreach in Latino communities, is making a difference,” said Peter Lee, Covered California executive director.

But he acknowledged that the figures also highlight the difficulty the agency faces in getting Latinos to complete their applications.

“Many of the people that are signing up for coverage, have not had insurance before,” Lee said. “So the fact that many people have signed up, been determined eligible, and then when they get to that point of picking a health plan, what’s the right benefit design for me, they need help.”

Lee noted there is a similar trend among African Americans. They make up 6 percent of people who have started an application, but only 3 percent of people who have completed one. Whites and Asians are picking plans at rates that match or exceed their representation in the state population.

Advocates were pleased with the numbers, but also stressed the need for insurance agents and counselors to provide more and better information to Latino and African American consumers who are shopping for plans.

Betsy Imholz of Consumers Union said that last year, many people signed up for a plan that was not a financial fit for them, even when more affordable plans were available. This year, confusion is mounting with new tax penalties kicking in for people who are uninsured.

“There’s a lot of work to be done,” she said. “The health literacy issues will only increase.”

Lee said that Covered California planned to follow up with insurance agents to make sure people who started applications get the help they need to “cross the finish line.”