Reform Holds Huge Gains for Latinos

Politico reported that: No one has as much to gain — or to lose — in the political tug of war over health care reform as the nation’s 48 million Latinos. Latinos are the country’s most frequently uninsured group. With undocumented immigrants excluded from reform benefits, the legislation is aimed at working-class and middle-class Latinos who are U.S. citizens. Namely, it is aimed at Latinos likely to vote. Latinos would receive an outsize benefit under the new health reform law that House Republicans voted to repeal last week, but analysts say many Latinos don’t realize the benefit is available because it has not been part of the political discussion. “The Democrats put together the first meaningful health care reform in two generations, and most Latinos have no idea of what’s in it,” said Gary Segura, senior political analyst for Latino Decisions, a polling service that identifies national Latino political issues. During the original debate on the law, excluding undocumented immigrants from coverage was a flash point that obscured the health coverage gains for Latino citizens. According to the White House, Latinos will make up roughly 28 percent of the 32 million uninsured Americans projected to gain medical coverage under the law. That’s nearly double their 16 percent share of the U.S. population.