Hispanic Health Initiative’s “Conversando Sobre Tu Salud” campaign for Central Florida Health Care for All launched this summer with a press conference and three town hall meetings in Orange and Osceola Counties. More than 120 people attended actions in July and August to educate Latino leaders about the upcoming ACA health insurance enrollment period and the gap in coverage to over 200,000 Latinos and 800,000 uninsured in Florida. Sponsoring organizations included the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, Florida CHAIN, NCLR, and Hispanic Health Initiatives.
Meetings in Poinciana, Englewood, and Buena Ventura Lakes (all predominantly Latino communities) were attended by families and civic leaders largely unaware of the large percentage of uninsured and Florida’s decision not extend health care insurance to nearly 1 million people living below 138% of poverty. Betsy Franceshini, Puerto Rico of the Office of Puerto Rico Government Affairs, “We want to see Medicaid expanded in
Florida as 30% of Latinos and 42% of single men do not have health insurance. They work in the service industry often for minimum wage and cannot afford to health insurance”.
Thirty leaders from community service organizations and local churches planned the events and will lead in organizing meetings with legislators around expanding health care coverage and planning health care insurance enrollment events when this year’s enrollment period starts November.
sunshineadvocacy.com 