Eric Moreno is a Content Curator with the Salud America! program at UT Health San Antonio. He specializes in covering the topics of health equity and family and social support. He holds a BA from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MA from Gonzaga University.
Open Enrollment for the Health Care Marketplace began on November 1. To date, more than 20 million Americans have obtained health care coverage since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Latinos and other racial and ethnic minorities have achieved some of the largest gains during this time. New citizens, those from other countries who have obtained citizenship in the U.S., have also “gained the security provided by having high quality health insurance,” the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) announced. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get involved. According to the ACF, healthy refugees and immigrants are more likely to ...
The average cost for tuition, fees, and room and board for public colleges rose 10% and 12% at private institutions over the past five years, the College Board said in their annual report. Over that same time period, the median family income rose just 7%. The one positive takeaway is that the cost is no longer “skyrocketing” the way it did during the recession of the late 2000s, CNN Money reports. For the current school year, the average price rose slightly less than the year before. It went up by 2.4% for in-state students at public colleges, and 3.6% at private schools. Latinos have shown added interest in educational matters, especially as their population has grown in the U.S. According to Pew Research, 89% of Latino young adults believe a college education is important for ...
The small city of Loma Linda, Calif. (23% Latino) is one of the world's five best areas for a long lifespan. Why? Avocados. Loma Linda is a "Blue Zone," a geographic region where the population lives longer, has fewer instances of dementia and disease, and has the world's largest percentages of people ages 100 and older. These zones were identified by author Dan Buettner in 2005 for National Geographic, who examined inhabitants’ daily lives, social structures, and diets. Many people in Loma Linda displayed rich familial ties, participated in regular, moderate physical activity, didn’t smoke, and rarely drank alcohol. Superfoods, like avocados, emerged as a top reason for their long lifespans, The Daily Meal reports. Avocados are one of the dietary staples found in Loma ...
Across the country, dual language schools and academies are becoming a popular choice or both students and their parents. This is especially true for the growing English-learning population. By putting a high value on bilingualism at schools, the ultimate goal is for the bilingual communities in which they reside to put a high value on them, the Syracuse Post-Standard reports. In New York (18.17% Latino population), the New York State Education Department requires districts to offer bilingual programs if they have 20 or more students in any grade who share a language other than English. At Delaware Primary School in Syracuse, New York (8.04% Latino population), two “50/50” classes of bilingual programming are offered at each level. The approach gives classes made up of half ...
The Open Enrollment period for the next phase of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) kicks off on November 1. In San Antonio, Texas (63.3% Latino population), the Enroll SA coalition was formed to increase healthcare enrollment in the area. Many San Antonians in the area remain uninsured. On Monday, October 31, the coalition will hold an event at the University of Texas at San Antonio Downtown Campus to unveil its resources for the upcoming open enrollment period. These resources include where to enroll and what plans are available and explanations of both benefits and penalties for those who choose to not enroll in a plan this year. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, ...
Chronic school absenteeism is a national problem that is becoming more and more critical with each passing school year. More than 6.5 million kids are at risk every year of falling behind academically, dropping out of school. According to new data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), chronic absenteeism has been linked to serious long-term health, employment, and financial concerns. Schools along with state governments and the federal government have begun to address the underlying causes of chronic absenteeism. Defined as missing 10% or more of school days in a school year, which translates into 15 or more days per year; chronic absenteeism includes excused and unexcused absences. For Latinos, these issues have become more and more important as their overall population ...
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), historic reductions in the rates of uninsured individuals have been seen across every social, economic, and racial category. Prior to the start of Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace on November 1, individuals can begin “window shopping” for plans. Over 20 million Americans have gained coverage since enactment of the ACA in 2010. Latinos have been one of the groups that have benefited the most; according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 9.2 million Latinos (as of 2015) have gained health insurance coverage. “Thanks to financial assistance, most Marketplace consumers this year will find plan options with premiums between $50 and $100 per month,” said HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in a ...
Challenged by smoking habits, rising instances of diabetes and high blood pressure, and drug abuse, the population of the U.S. simply lags behind other similar nations when it comes to infant mortality and the life expectancy its citizens, the U.S. National Library of Medicine reports. A comprehensive study of global health statistics found that the U.S. does not meet the high expectations set based on the amount of money spent on healthcare. The findings were part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study 2015, a scientific analysis of more than 300 diseases and injuries in 195 countries and territories. “Not all U.S. citizens benefit equally from [the country’s] advantages,” said Dr. Mohsen Naghavi, a professor with the Institute for Health Metrics ...
In the U.S. today, 65% of all children under the age of 6 have two parents working either full- or part-time; this number is double what it was in 1970. For families across the country, the necessity to work has also created a need for childcare for their children. This in turn has created a financial burden that has never existed before, Business Insider reports. A report from New America, Care.com, and others entitled The Care Index, found that in 33 states the average cost for full-time childcare for a child under 4 years of age has exceeded the cost of in-state public college tuition. Across the country, the average childcare costs $9,589 per year while in-state tuition, on average, costs $9,410. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in ...
