White House and Health and Human Services Ramp Up Efforts to Educate Latino Community on the Affordable Care Act

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

September 25, 2013

Outreach and Education Efforts During Hispanic Heritage Month Culminate with National Hispanic Week of Action

During Hispanic Heritage Month, the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are intensifying efforts to inform Hispanic Americans about the benefits of the Affordable Care Act and the new Health Insurance Marketplaces. White House and HHS officials are scheduled to participate in conferences, events, briefings, and online engagements across the country demonstrating the benefit of the Affordable Care Act for the Latino community.

The health care law specifically addresses the longstanding inequalities that have affected minority communities across the US, including lack of access to affordable health insurance coverage. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 10.2 million Latinos will have the opportunity to purchase affordable coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Administration's Hispanic Heritage Month themed efforts to educate Latinos about enrollment in the Marketplaces will culminate in a National Hispanic Week of Action to educate, engage, and enroll Latinos in the Health Insurance Marketplaces from October 21st to October 28th.

The Week of Action will be dedicated to raising awareness about the value and benefits of the health care law in Latinos' lives and their pocketbooks. Across the country, community organizations, local, state and federal government partners will be convening events and partnering with Spanish language media to inform and ensure that hard-working Hispanic Americans know about the new health coverage options available to them through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

CuidadoDeSalud.gov is the first website in Spanish of its kind that provides consumers with the opportunity to take control of their health care through a variety of resources that will help them access quality, affordable health coverage. Leading up to National Hispanic Week of Action, the site will continue to add functionality such as a new online enrollment tool that will allow consumers to create accounts, complete an online application, and shop for health plans that fit their budget and needs - all in Spanish.

Enrollment in the marketplaces begins on October 1st. Throughout the six-month enrollment period, the Latino community will have access to multiple resources to help with the enrollment process in English and Spanish. CuidadoDeSalud.gov offers a live web-chat function in Spanish. A paper application will be available in Spanish to serve as a job-aid and resource as Spanish speakers and their families apply for coverage on HealthCare.gov. In addition, trained specialists at certain organizations in the community, such as local health centers, where Latinos are more likely to be served, and libraries, who offer face-to-face help by answering questions or assisting with the application process. A Find Local Help section on both HealthCare.gov and CuidadoDeSalud.gov will ensure people have the right information about where to go for help in their communities, and HHS trained call center staff offers bilingual help, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 1-800-318-2596.

HHS will also announce today a growing list of more than 30 Hispanic organizations and businesses that have volunteered to help uninsured Americans get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The Champions for Coverage will help Latinos, as well as other racial and ethnic minorities, increase access to quality, affordable health coverage, invest in prevention and wellness, and give individuals and families more control over their care. To become a Champion of Coverage, visit: http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champion-apply.html.

Please see below for a list of upcoming events. Updated advisories will be issued throughout the month.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Kick Off Week, 9/16-9/22 -- Securing Our Future: Quality Health Coverage for Latino Businesses

*Sunday, September 15th - President Signs National Hispanic Heritage Month and National Serving Institutions Week proclamations.

*Monday, September 16th - US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention ACA Workshop featuring Mayra Alvarez, Associate Director of the Office of Minority Health at the US Department of Health and Human Services in Chicago, IL.

*Monday, September 16th - Latinos and the ACA Townhall with the State of Illinois and the IL Latino Family Commission featuring Mayra Alvarez, Associate Director of the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services in Chicago, IL.

*Tuesday, September 17th -- Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius discussed the Affordable Care Act and its benefits to the Latino community at a panel event hosted by the Health Council of South Florida at Miami Dade College in Miami, FL.

*Saturday, September 21st - National Hispanic Medical Association Regional ACA Town Hall featuring Herb Schultz, Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services in Los Angeles, CA.

*Saturday, September 21st -- Latinos in Social Media (LATISM) National Conference: Understanding the Affordable Care Act, Gina Rodriguez, HHS Latino Affairs Liaison, New York, NY.

*Sunday, September 22nd - LULAC Latinos Living Healthy Feria de Salud featuring workshops, presentations, and speakers on the Affordable Care Act in Los Angeles, CA

Week of 9/23 - 9/29: Securing Our Future: Quality Health Coverage for Young Latinos

*Tuesday, September 24th -- Securing Our Future: Quality Health Coverage and Latinos series begins on www.whitehouse.gov/Hispanic, highlighting Latinos sharing their stories about the importance of quality, affordable health coverage.

*Tuesday, September 24th -- The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and HHS co-sponsored Federal Training Institute featuring Assistant Secretary for Administration, Ned Holland in Washington, DC.

*Thursday, September 26th - National Hispanic Medical Association Regional Affordable Care Act Town Hall featuring Linda Colon, Region II Manager, US Health and Human Services, and Dennis Gonzalez, Region II Executive Officer, US Department of Health and Human Services, in New York City, NY.

*Thursday, September 26th - Latinos and the Affordable Care Twitter Town Hall featuring Mayra Alvarez, Associate Director of the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services. Use #OurSalud to join the conversation and follow us at @HHSLatino, @LaCasaBlanca

*Friday, September 27th -- Kickoff for "Enroll El Paso" Coalition featuring Mayra Alvarez, Associate Director of the Office of Minority Health, US Department of Health and Human Services in El Paso, TX.

*Friday, September 27th - Latinos and the Affordable Care Stakeholder Conference Call with Cecilia Munoz, White House Director of Domestic Policy and Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, US Department of Health and Human Services.

*Saturday, September 28th - National Hispanic Medical Association Regional Affordable Care Act Town Hall featuring Teresa Nino, Director of the Office of Public Engagement, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, US Health and Human Services in San Antonio, TX.

*Sunday, September 29th - 30th - Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute featuring numerous Administration officials, including Mayra Alvarez, Teresa Nino, and Gina Rodriguez, of HHS.

Week of 9/30 -- 10/6: Securing Our Future: Latino Community-Based Outreach for Quality Health Coverage

*September 30th -- October 1st -- Cabinet secretaries and Administration officials will participate in a series of plenaries, summits, and events as part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Conference, including:

*The Honorable Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education

*The Honorable Tom Perez, Secretary of Labor

*The Honorable Shaun Donovan, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

*The Honorable Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior

*The Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

*Alejandra Ceja, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics

*Mayra Alvarez, Associate Director, Office of Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services

*Yvette Sanchez Fuentes, Director, Office of Head Start, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services

*Wednesday, October 2nd -- VotoLatino Affordable Care Act Panel featuring Congressman Raul Ruiz, CA; Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood; and Mayra Alvarez, HHS moderated by Maria Teresa Kumar, VotoLatino

*Wednesday, October 2nd -- The President and the First Lady will attend the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute 36th Annual Awards Gala in Washington, DC. The President's remarks are open press.

*Thursday, October 3rd - National Hispanic Medical Association Regional Affordable Care Act Town Hall featuring Joanne Grossi, Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC .

*Friday, October 4th - LULAC Briefing at White House on Implementing the Affordable Care Act and Enacting Commonsense Immigration Reform.

*Saturday, October 5th - Nueva Vida- ACA & Latinos Briefing Mayra Alvarez, Associate Director of the Office of Minority Health, Chevy Chase, MD.

Week of 10/7 -- 10/13 Securing Our Future: Latinas and the Affordable Care Act

*Monday, October 7th - Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will host Health and Human Services Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Reception featuring Keynote Speaker Secretary Tom Perez, Secretary of Labor.

*Tuesday, October 8th - The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will host a Hispanic Heritage Month Reception at the Naval Observatory. Attendees will include Latino Champions for Coverage and National Latino leaders supporting the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

*Friday, October 11th - National Hispanic Medical Association Regional Affordable Care Act Town Hall featuring Pamela Roshell, Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services in Atlanta, GA.

*Saturday, October 12th - National Hispanic Medical Association Regional Affordable Care Act Town Hall featuring Kathleen Falk, Regional Director, US Department of Health and Human Services in Chicago, IL.

*Saturday, October 12th - Dia de la Mujer Latina y su Familia Health Festivals in Houston, San Antonio Dallas, Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, and McAllen/Edinburg, Texas featuring Health and Human Services staff and Administration representatives.