Tag: healthcare access

Cobertura de salud para todos en Washington sin importar el estatus migratorio

In English

A partir del 1 de noviembre, todas las personas que vivan en Washington podrán adquirir un seguro médico a través de Washington Healthplanfinder. ¿Tiene preguntas? ¿Necesita ayuda para inscribirse? Mire para saber cómo conectarse con un profesional de confianza en su comunidad o con el Centro de atención al cliente de Washington Healthplanfinder. Encuentre un navegador o corredor en su área aquí: https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/us….

A partir del 1 de Noviembre, todos los residentes del estado de Washington, independientemente de su estatus migratorio, podrán comprar un seguro médico y dental a través de Washington Healthplanfinder. 

Dos nuevos programas ayudarán a los inmigrantes a obtener cobertura médica en 2024. Las personas sin seguro pueden ser elegibles para uno de estos programas: 

Programa de expansión de acceso a planes médicos y dentales 

Una nueva exención federal, primera en su tipo en los Estados Unidos, brindará nuevas oportunidades para los residentes de Washington que no cuentan con seguro. A partir del 1 de noviembre de 2023, todas las personas en Washington, independientemente de su ciudadanía o estatus migratorio, podrán adquirir un seguro médico y dental a través de Washington Healthplanfinder, para obtener cobertura a partir de enero de 2024. Además, la cobertura será más asequible, con ahorros adicionales en las primas mensuales para hogares con ingresos de hasta al 250% del nivel federal de pobreza (FPL). 

Programa de expansión de acceso al seguro Washington Apple Health

La Autoridad de Atención Médica de Washington (HCA) ampliará la oferta de cobertura médica independientemente del estatus migratorio. A partir del 1 de julio de 2024, los habitantes indocumentados de Washington con ingresos inferiores al 138% del nivel federal de pobreza (FLP) podrán ser elegibles para la cobertura de Washington Apple Health (el Medicaid de Washington). 

 Más información: 

Health coverage for all Washingtonians, regardless of citizenship or immigration status

En Español

Starting on November 1st, all people living in Washington will be able to purchase health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder. Find a Navigator or Broker in your area here: https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/us….

Starting Nov. 1, 2023, all Washington residents, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, have access to purchase qualified health and dental plans from Washington Healthplanfinder.

These two new programs will help immigrants get healthcare coverage in 2024. If you are uninsured, you may be eligible for one of these two new programs.

What’s New?

Health Plan and Dental Plan Expansion

New first-in-kind federal waiver aims to improve access for uninsured Washingtonians. Starting November 1, 2023, everyone who lives in Washington state regardless of citizenship or immigration status will have the opportunity to buy health and dental insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder, for coverage starting January 2024. Premium assistance may also be available to undocumented adults with incomes up to 250% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

Washington Apple Health Expansion

The Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) will expand healthcare coverage regardless of immigration status. Starting July 1, 2024, undocumented Washingtonians with income under 138% of the federal poverty level (FLP) may be eligible for Washington Apple Health (Washington Medicaid).

Want to learn more?

• Flyers in English and Spanish
• Videos in English and Spanish
• Learn more about Healthplanfinder
• Additional resources in different languages

Vaccination Rates Among Washington State Latinos Remain Low as Delta Variant Emerges in the U.S.

A new policy brief from LCH reports that state and county support for community-based organizations is vital to help vulnerable Latino communities who are being left behind in vaccination efforts. Read the policy brief here.

University of Washington, Seattle: Although significant progress has been made in vaccinating the overall population of Washington State against COVID-19, Latino communities remain vulnerable to infection as the majority remain unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, LCH reports that in Washington State as a whole, only 35 percent of Latinos are fully vaccinated, 6 percent are partially vaccinated, and 60 percent are unvaccinated.

“With the growing threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant in our region, it is imperative that we vaccinate as many Latinos as possible before the fall when schools reopen and cooler temperatures will drive infection rates higher,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, who wrote the policy brief.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the 2019 Census QuickFacts website and the WA State Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.

Hispanics/Latinos have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 infection and deaths nationally and locally. In Washington State, as of June 15th, 2021, nearly one-third (29%) of all COVID-19 cases were among Latinos, even though Latinos only account for 13% of the state’s population. Counties with the largest numbers of unvaccinated Latinos include King (120,226), Yakima (82,916), Peirce (71,379), Snohomish (58,440), and Franklin (40,084) counties.

The attached policy brief urges county and state officials, including elected representatives, to strengthen their support of grassroots, community-based organizations. This support is vital to expand access and overcome hesitancy to COVID-19 vaccines among Latinos in Washington.

Support at the state and county level will protect unvaccinated and partially vaccinated Latinos for the fall season when the spread of the Delta variant is expected to intensify.

Read The Full Policy Brief Here

South Park Community Center Vaccination Clinic, May 2021. Photo by Hugo Ludeña.

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The Latino Center for Health is committed to advancing the field of Latino health through building capacity to support culturally responsive research and shaping the next generation of leaders equipped to respond to current and emerging health issues facing diverse Latino communities in the state and region. Through prioritizing community-academic partnerships, professional training and mentorship, and innovative research approaches, the Latino Center for Health positions itself as a critical resource to inform policy development and effective practices promoting health in urban and rural settings across Washington state.

Depression and Anxiety among Latinos: Urgent Call for Mental Health Services

A new survey finds increased prevalence in depression and anxiety among Latinos in Washington State. LCH calls for policymakers to recognize this issue as critical and make short- and long-term changes to improve access to mental healthcare.

University of Washington, Seattle: The prevalence of depression and anxiety among Latinos in WA state increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new survey study conducted by the Latino Center for Health. As part of a COVID-19 policy brief, LCH reports 13% and 16% of respondents scored “depression likely” and “anxiety likely”, respectively. Additionally, 9% of participants’ scores indicate clinically significant comorbidity of anxiety and depression.

This policy brief is part of LCH’s COVID-19 policy brief series. LCH researchers used data from the “Understanding Washington Latinos’ Experiences Around COVID-19” survey developed by the center in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers.

Latinos are disproportionately affected by stressors that negatively impact their mental health. Out of all survey respondents, 39% indicated that they were unemployed, 41% reported that they were uninsured, and 57% reported having completed a high school education or less.

“COVID-19 has illuminated and exacerbated disparities in anxiety and depression impacting Latinos. WA state must do much more to provide accessible, and culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health services for all Latinos in our state, including rural and urban, insured and uninsured, migrant and non-migrant, and immigrant and non-immigrant,” said LCH co-Director Leo S. Morales, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study.

Overall, scores for “depression likely” and “anxiety likely” were higher among younger (18-30 years old) and older participants (>65 years old), women, divorced, those with higher education, and those with lower incomes.

This policy brief contains a list of recommendations to improve and promote access to culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services to urban and rural Latinos in Washington state. Some short- and long-term recommendations include:

  • Make temporary waivers for telehealth (telemedicine and telemental health) services permanent.
  • Increase access to evidence-based, culturally responsive telephone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) depression care.
  • Incentivize college and university educational programs across the state to strengthen and enhance their equity curriculum through developing and implementing Latino mental health curriculum and tracks.

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Sea Mar Community Health Centers, founded in 1978, is a community-based organization committed to providing quality, comprehensive health, human, housing, educational and cultural services to diverse communities, specializing in service to Latinos in Washington state.Sea Mar’snetwork of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics in WA state and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.

Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among WA State Latinos Appears to be Low, Accessibility Remains Concern

A new survey finds 62 percent of Latinos/Hispanics in Washington state are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine yet remain under-vaccinated. LCH calls for policymakers and public health officials to target communications and accessibility barriers.

University of Washington, Seattle: In a new survey of Sea Mar Community Health Center patients, the Latino Center for Health (LCH) found that most (62%) Latinos/Hispanics believe vaccines are safe and effective at preventing infections and are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine if available to them, despite having some concerns related to cost, side effects, and effectiveness.

“This data supports that the issue with Latinos not getting the COVID-19 vaccine is not so much due to hesitancy but access. Our policymakers should address these barriers and bring the vaccine to our communities to mitigate the health inequities that Latinos have experienced during the pandemic,” said Dr. Miriana C. Durán, Research Coordinator at the University of Washington School of Public Health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted Latinos nationally, with mortality nearly six times that of non-Latino whites. In Washington state, the COVID-19 infection rate for Latinos is the second-highest in the nation, accounting for more than a third of COVID-19 cases in the state when Latinos are only 13% of the state’s population. Throughout the pandemic, Latinos have had inadequate access to COVID-19 testing and other resources and are once again lagging behind other groups in the state in accessing approved COVID-19 vaccines, despite being overrepresented in the state’s essential workforce. As of 4/7/2021, Latinos make up only 7% of all individuals 16 years of age and older who have received at least one vaccine dose in WA state.

In light of the disproportionate burden of COVID-19 on Latinos in WA, inequities in vaccine access, and the willingness of Latinos to take the vaccine, LCH urges community leaders, policymakers, and public health officials to increase the vaccination rate for Latinos in WA by tailoring communication strategies and public education, improving access, and engaging with local community-based organizations.

This policy brief prepared by LCH contains a list of recommendations aimed at reducing vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccine acceptance and uptake among Latinos in WA state. Some recommendations include:

  • Engaging local Latino community leaders as effective and trusted advocates to deliver information on COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Expanding service hours in vaccination clinics, including after-hours and weekends, making appointments accessible to people working in various shifts.
  • Increasing engagement with Community-Based Organizations as trusted, safe, and familiar spaces, with cultural and linguistic knowledge.

“Latinos in WA want to get the COVID-19 vaccine — let’s be empathetic, meet them where they are, help them overcome the obstacles they face, and give them relevant information in the language they understand best,” said Community Health Worker and UW Public Health Practice student Aida Hidalgo MSc, Ph.D.

LCH created the survey and policy brief in partnership with Sea Mar Community Health Centers. Sea Mar’s network of services includes more than 90 medical, dental, and behavioral health clinics in WA state and a wide variety of nutritional, social, and educational services.