Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Number Of Uninsured Latino Kids Grew Disproportionately During Trump Years
NBC News: Under Trump, Gains In Health Care Coverage For Latino Children Mostly Erased
Latino children were disproportionately affected by an overall increase in child uninsured rates between 2016 and 2019 when Donald Trump was president, according to a recent study. More than 1.8 million Latino children lacked health coverage as of 2019, a rate of 9.3 percent, according to the study from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University released June 8. That is an increase of 354,400 children compared to 2016, when the uninsured rate of Latino children was at 7.7 percent. The uninsured rate of non-Latino children increased from 3.7 percent in 2016 to 4.4 percent in 2019. (Acevedo, 6/23)
Stateline: Enrollment In Health Insurance Lags Among Latino Children
Not long ago, Graciela Camarena, a community health worker in the Rio Grande Valley, had a perplexing case. Over a two-year period, the U.S.-born daughter of a single, working mother kept getting turned down for Medicaid coverage even though her brother was enrolled in the public health plan. The situation was fraught because the 12-year-old girl was ailing. She had developed breathing problems and was always fatigued, to the point that she couldn’t participate in gym class. (Ollove, 6/24)
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The CT Mirror: Undocumented Immigrants Become 'Permanent Patients' In Hospitals
Six months have passed since Maria has stepped outside Yale New Haven Hospital. No fresh air. No wind, rain or sun on her skin. No home-cooked meals. Just air conditioning, lukewarm cafeteria meals and the view from her window, overlooking the hospital’s parking garage. ... Hospitals are required by federal regulations to provide life-sustaining treatment to uninsured undocumented immigrants who show up in the emergency department and to treat them until they can be discharged safely. In Connecticut, however, undocumented immigrants don’t have access to outpatient services or less-expensive nursing home care if they require ongoing treatment after hospitalization. (Thomas and Pananjady, 6/15)
Salem Statesman Journal: Undocumented And Uninsured: How Oregon Could Address Racial Inequities In Health Care
Guadalupe Romero Munoz’s father, Nicholas, first complained about a blister on the heel of his right foot in December. In January, as the blister continued to grow, Munoz took his father to a local urgent care clinic. The clinic urged the family to take Nicholas to a specialist instead. But because his father is undocumented and barred from enrolling in the Oregon Health Plan, the family was unable to do so. Without access to health insurance and care, the infection in Nicholas’ foot worsened. (Lugo, 6/22)
KTVU: Covered California Offers Health Care To Some For As Low As $1 A Month, Thanks To Federal Funds
Folks who got economically beaten and battered by the pandemic, have a real opportunity, announced Monday, to get high-quality healthcare for quite literally, a pittance: a dollar a month. Covered California, the state-managed low-cost medical insurance provider, announced that thanks to the funding from the federal American Rescue Plan, record numbers of people are signing up for very good insurance for at an incredibly cheap price. (Vacar, 6/22)
WOAI: Congressman Proposes New Bill To Help Texans Get Medical Coverage
You could soon be one of millions of Texans covered by health insurance. Congressman Lloyd Doggett is proposing a new bill to help many struggling to see a doctor and get the care they need. "I should have the right to be able to go take care of myself, without knowing that there's going to be insane financial repercussions," Vanessa Vega said. Something Vanessa Vega, 25 and a grad student, says she cannot do that as she scrambles to afford health care. ... Running out of options, Vanessa contacted Congressman Lloyd Doggett's office, asking what was being done to create a solution for an issue millions of people currently have after 12 states, including Texas, have refused to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. (Guzman-Tracy, 6/21)
