Mark_Burrows / Photo courtesy
When faced with health challenges, the best approach is to address them before things get worse.
Addressing medical challenges in the area of public policy, on the other hand, is a slow and painstaking process that does not take into account the short-term needs of the beneficiaries. And when it comes to making health insurance available to migrants, too often the debate is hijacked by radical politicians who prioritize political overruns over public health.
California is leading the path of justice for migrants and has become the first state to provide healthcare services to migrants. Regardless of immigration status.
Colorado isn’t there yet, but we’re (slowly) moving in the right direction, especially in the last few legislative meetings.
Thanks to the leadership of the Colorado Organization (COLOR) for Latina Opportunities and Reproductive Rights, in 2021 state legislators paved the way for undocumented people to receive assisted reproductive technology services through Medicaid. I did.
State legislators built that success this year with Cover All Coloradans (HB 22-1289). Above all, this measure extends the excess of Medicaid and children’s basic health insurance to low-income pregnant women and children, regardless of immigrant circumstances, but it is important to understand the timing. The State Department of Health Policy and Finance must provide its coverage until January 1, 2025.
And the threat is imminent. Three Republicans from the Colorado Parliamentary delegation, Lauren Bobert, Daglanborn, and Ken Buck, said, “Dollars for illegal alien health insurance law without federal tax.” (I also said they were on the bill. Also note that we chose to use the racially discriminatory term “illegal aliens” to describe those affected).
Colorado received a federal innovation exemption last year Implement Colorado options. This is a new health care plan offered in 2023 aimed at reducing consumer costs and reducing health inequalities between races. With the exemption, the state will reduce the cost of subsidizing Colorado, including undocumented immigrants who are not eligible for direct federal support through the Affordable Care Act (so-called “pass-through” funding). , The federal government can keep the money saved. ..
Bach frankly declared Colorado’s innovative approach to reducing costs and expanding care, “slap American taxpayers fighting to get up, go to work, and survive.”
The fact that Congressman Buck believes that undocumented immigrants do not fit the description is a true slap in the face. Latin communities are important to the economic vitality of communities throughout the central mountainous region. Immigrants literally build these mountain resort communities and our tourism economy depends on their workforce.
Rejecting health insurance for those who work to keep our community running is at odds with what Voces Unidas delas Montanas and Voces Unidas Action Fund have learned in our outreach and organization.
Nearly 6 out of 10 Latin American adults surveyed as part of the Colorado Latin American policy agenda Last year, we helped increase access to health insurance in Colorado, including undocumented migrants. A survey of Latin leaders showed that the number surged to 9 out of 10. why? Our community is disproportionately and adversely affected by the current system. examination:
- Hispanic / Latino Colorado was likely to be uninsured, despite the state’s uninsured rate dropping from 7.9% in 2019 to 7.5% last year (rate from 10.1% in 2019 to last year). Jumped to 14.4%).
- In Colorado, Latin Americans are three times more likely to be uninsured than non-Hispanic children, and Latino and Latino children are twice as likely to be uninsured.
It can and needs to change.
Colorado is making progress by expanding its reach to include pregnant people and children, regardless of immigrant status. But regardless of immigrant circumstances, we cannot stop until everyone has access to health care. And we can’t wait until 2025 for that to happen.
Alex Sánchez is the founder and CEO of the Voces Unidas Action Fund, a Latino-led advocacy group operating in the Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, Summit, and Lake counties.
