Improving Access to Healthcare Services in the Latino Community

Access to medical care and treatment is vital for a healthy community, and yet Hispanics are three times more likely to be uninsured than whites. While they are less affected by many of the leading causes of death in the US, Hispanics are at greater risk of diabetes and other chronic conditions. And in the Latino community as a whole, barriers to healthcare have led to a lower uptake of preventative healthcare measures. Healthcare studies and initiatives are now addressing the disparities experienced by the Latino community and hoping to encourage more eligible Latinos to take up low-cost health coverage, come forward for vaccinations and improve fitness levels at their own pace.

Reviewing Welfare and Insurance Coverage

The state and federal government programs Medicaid and Medicare provide specific individuals with guaranteed health coverage and access to health-related services. The Latino community can be at greater risk of serious and chronic health conditions, and so the programs can be particularly useful to anyone who is eligible to participate. As almost a third of Medicaid participants are Latino, in states where the program has been expanded under the Affordable Care Act, a greater proportion of Latinos have already benefited from improved access to healthcare. If they are over 65, or younger with a disability, Latinos can also take advantage of the social insurance program Medicare. By keeping the policy up to date after benefit changes, users can ensure that the monthly premiums are appropriate and the current coverage is adequate for their needs.

Improving Vaccination Rates

Latino and Hispanic communities already tend to have lower rates of immunisation, with around 30% fewer Hispanics receiving regular shots for pneumonia and influenza. This lower rate is reflected in the reduced uptake of testing and vaccination for Covid 19 by the Latino community. To help address these disparities and remove any barriers to the increased uptake of vaccinations, the National Institutes of Health have provided $1.4 million in federal grants to a project involving university researchers and local community groups. The first part of the project will involve studies and focus groups to uncover the reasons behind vaccination hesitancy and then the next step will be to improve access to healthcare, especially for high-risk children.

Encouraging Physical Fitness

According to figures from the CDC, over 30% of Hispanic adults are physically inactive, the highest prevalence amongst all demographic groups. Encouraging people to be more physically active can significantly reduce the risk of serious health issues and chronic conditions such as diabetes, a disease which is more common in Latinos. Focusing on the benefits of physical movement rather than prescribing structured exercise could be a simple way to engage more people in improving their health. This can be achieved simply by leading a less sedentary lifestyle and undertaking moderate activities that can be easily introduced to a daily routine such as walking, gardening or dancing.

Addressing the disparities in healthcare experienced by Latinos is vital in order to treat chronic and serious diseases more effectively and encourage better self-care. With greater access to medical insurance, information and other services, the health of the community can be improved.