In California, Latino health insurance coverage rates lag behind other populations. A Latino health study conducted by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that access to healthcare was impacted by lack of employer insurance coverage and immigration status. A lack of consistent access to quality healthcare services resulted in poor health outcomes for Latinos according to the study.
Stats on Health Insurance Coverage for Latinos:
The study used data from 2015 and 2016 which found:
- 13.7% of Latinos are uninsured
- Latinos have one of the highest Medicaid enrollment rates at 44.9%
- 21.6% of uninsured Latinos are eligible to enroll in Medicaid but are not
- Latinos have the lowest employer-based insurance coverage of all racial and ethnic groups at 31.6%
- 139,000 Latino children which is 76% are eligible to enroll in Medi-cal, California’s Medicaid health care program, but are not.
UCLA’s study also found differences in healthcare coverage among various Latino groups. Guatemalans (35.9%) and Salvadorians (23.6%) were the most uninsured. Latinas (15.9%) were also less likely to have insurance then men (22.2%). As Latinos age, they are less likely to have health insurance until they turn 55 at which point their coverage rates start to increase again.
Other barriers to healthcare access
Not surprising, cost is a huge factor for Latinos access to healthcare. Not having adequate finances resulted in delays seeking medical care or to fill prescriptions issued by doctors. Recent Latino immigrants, those who came to the US less than 10 years ago, also had higher uninsured rates. This holds true with immigrants with limited English proficiency as well.
“Despite high employment rates, many California Latinos lack access to affordable coverage through an employer and must purchase more expensive individual coverage on the private market,” said Tara Becker, lead researcher of the study “Eliminating the gap in coverage will require reducing health care costs and expanding access to subsidies to purchase coverage.”
**Download the study policy brief here**
Dr. Cindy on Latino health insurance coverage
Dr. Cindy is leading the charge for health equity for Latinos and underserved populations by helping families get the person-centered care and resources they need. 
