The California Obamacare operation has enlisted labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta to encourage Latinos to sign up for health insurance before the March 31 deadline.
Huerta, famed for her work with Cesar Chavez, said if the late labor-rights activist “were here today, he would say to everyone who needs to get enrolled, especially our young people.”
Huerta was a co-founder of the group that became United Farm Workers,
The longtime civil rights activist will be “a featured supporter” of Covered California promotional activities throughout the rest of the month.
Those without health insurance have until March 31 to sign up for policies, or face penalties due with their 2014 taxes. Cesar Chavez Day, coincidentally, is March 31, the final day of open enrollment for Covered California plans.
Latinos are a key target group for Covered California, which has come under intermittent fire for its performance in signing up Spanish-language speakers. In January, the Obamacare group launched “an intensified” push for Latino enrollment.
President Obama, meanwhile, stumped for Latino signups at a virtual town hall meeting in Washington, D.C., on March 7. The president was criticized at the event by some Latino journalists for stepped-up immigration enforcement and for the various woes of the Affordable Care Act.
“You don’t punish me by not signing up for health care,” Obama told his audience. “You’re punishing yourself or your family if in fact there’s affordable health care to be had.” Obama said there would be no extension of the March 31 deadline.
The town hall was hosted by Univision, Telemundo, impreMedia and the California Endowment.
The president told viewers on Spanish-language TV not to worry about possible deportation actions against relatives due to Obamacare participation: “There is no sharing of the data from the health care plan into immigration services.” Illegal immigrants are not allowed by law to receive Covered California services, but a state senator has proposed that the undocumented residents be included.
Covered California chief Peter Lee said Dolores Huerta “is respected nationwide for her human rights work but holds a special place of honor for Californians, and we believe targeted messages from her to the Latino community will encourage people to sign up.
“She is particularly well-known among Latino women in our state, who are often the driving force in households for taking care of their families’ health.”
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