CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The risk of being uninsured can cost you thousands of dollars in the long run if a diagnosis is left untreated and you end up with a large hospital bill.
Statistics show Latinos are more than twice as likely to be uninsured as non-Latino whites.
But why?
Victor Lehman has heard the excuses.
" ' I'm healthy, I can't afford it, I don't know how to sign up,' " he said are some of the reasons. "Health insurance is like this. It's nice to know you have it and not need it. Than to need it and not have it."
Lehman is an insurance agent with eHealth Agency, who helps low-income residents get affordable health care.
He said folks often turn to him after they become too overwhelmed when navigating the options themselves.
"Especially the part when they're, they're leaving the office crying because they didn't realize that they could get insurance and they needed it, you know?" he said.
The good news is that uninsured rates in the Latino population have gone down since the Affordable Care Act came into law more than a decade ago, decreasing from 32.7% to 18.0% from 2010 to 2022.
However, statistics also show Latinos are more than twice as likely to be uninsured as non-Latino whites.
Lehman, who is bilingual and works with mostly Latino clients said, in his experience, there are several barriers clients have encountered in the past that they share with him during the process.
"There's an issue with trust. There's an issue with language," he said. "Those are two things that really make an effect. And then that thought process: 'Well, I'm strong. I'm OK. Well, I'm gonna go to Mexico and get my health care there.' Well, maybe you can, maybe you can't."
For those who don't have insurance, Compassionate Care Medical Clinic is proving to be a vital resource since they recently opened their doors to the public.
More than 50% of their patients self-identify as Latino.
The clinic in the Six Points area provides primary and specialist care at little to no cost to patients who are uninsured or whose insurance won't cover needed treatment.
"There was a time in medicine when a physician could determine whether he was gonna see somebody at no charge or not," said board member and former anesthesiologist John Navar. "The physician out of his own, his own empathy could see a patient and not charge him in the office. As corporate medicine has evolved, corporate medicine has some certain, very strong rules as to what you can and can't do."
He said it can be hard for Latinos with no health insurance to get regular care for chronic conditions, like diabetes. A problem their clinic aims to help with through partnerships without fear of shame or rejection because of their socioeconomic status.
"The patients can see their doctor, and even though they don't pay, the doctor and the nurses and the volunteers want to see the patient," he said. "It's a pleasure to see the patients. That's why we come here, to help you. You honor us, by trusting me. "I trust that you're going to help me with my health." So they help us. It's an incredible pleasure. It's a pleasure to see the people. Don Jose, good afternoon. Don Pedro, good morning. Miss, it's a pleasure to meet you. It's a pleasure to treat my people. The other people, too, but it's a pleasure."
Here are some key dates to keep in mind:
- Open enrollment begins Nov. 1;
- The last day to enroll or change plans is Dec. 15 for plans that begin Jan. 1. Lehman can be reached at victor@ehealth-agency.com.