Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, is an opportunity to honor the rich history and culture of Hispanic and Latino communities. While this month-long celebration is essential, it also serves as a reminder to reflect on the persistent challenges these communities face, particularly in access to healthcare.
In Maricopa County, 1.3 million Latinos live, work and contribute to the fabric of the Valley’s community. They are entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, scientists, public servants and more. Yet, despite their contributions, Latinos in Arizona face significant barriers to accessing quality healthcare. More than 7 out of 10 Latinos in Arizona’s workforce are essential or frontline workers, but many of them are uninsured and uninsurable therefore, so are their children.
Six out of 10 Latino children rely on Medicaid’s Child Health Insurance Plan for healthcare. This reliance is partially because their parents hold jobs that do not offer health insurance. Unfortunately, Arizona’s CHIP program only provides coverage during the school year, leaving children vulnerable during the summer months.