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Eric Moreno

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.

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Articles by Eric Moreno

Low-Income Families Pay More for Everyday Items



A recent study from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, low-income families pay more for everyday items due to an inability to buy these products in bulk. As reported by CNN, researchers analyzed among the purchases of over 100,000 household items over the course of seven years. It was determined that low-income families were less able to afford the higher upfront cost of buying items in bulk rather than households with higher incomes. Two-thirds of U.S. Latino children live in low-income households and about one-third live in poverty. One of the key products studied was the purchase of toilet paper. In studying this trend, it was observed that 36 rolls of two-ply toilet paper might cost $15, but a roll of one-ply cost only $1. Researchers found that low-income ...

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More than 500,000 Could Lose SNAP Benefits



According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities more than half a million people could lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in 2016 due to the return of a three -month limit of benefits for unemployed adults age 18-49 who aren’t disabled or raising minor children in many areas. The impact will be felt in 22 states that are reimposing the limits this year. Latinos are disproportionately affected by poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment. They are also more likely to receive emergency food assistance. More than 22% of Latino households are food insecure as compared to 11% White, non-Latino households. Over 25% of Latino children live in food-insecure households. Work requirements in public assistance programs typically require ...

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Economic Disparities Prominent Along Racial Lines in Long Beach



As reported by the Long Beach Press-Telegram, a community-based think tank in Long Beach, Calif. (42% Latino population) detailed in a new report how the city is facing economic troubles along ethnic and geographic lines. According to the report entitled “Long Beach Equity Atlas: Geographical Opportunity” by ReThinking Greater Long Beach, poverty among children and adults is concentrated in communities of ethnic and racial minorities, specifically in the south central and west areas while wealth is concentrated in the areas populated mostly by whites in the north central and east side of Long Beach. “The rate of poverty will increase, and we will reach a point where the reserves of the city will be at such a drain ... we will have to go to bankruptcy,” said Alex J. Norman, a ...

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Health Inequity is a Key Concern in Minnesota



Minnesota is generally considered one of the healthiest states in the country; however, health incomes for the state’s residents vary greatly in terms of race, sexual-orientation, and mental health status, according to the Minnesota Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ed Ehlinger. According to the Minnesota Department of Health’s “Advancing Health Equity” report, which highlighted disparities in health among specific populations, Minnesota’s growing Latino population deal with several critical health disparities. Per the report, Minnesota’s Latino youths have extremely high rates of obesity. American Indian and African American youths also have higher rates that white youths. Also, poverty rates for children under 18 are twice as high for Latino children than for white ...

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The Racial Gap in U.S. Education



A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau offers a look at the differences in educational attainment for the different races and ethnicities. The study found that 93.3% of non-Hispanic whites over the age of 25 graduated from high school and Asians and non-Hispanic whites were more likely to hold a bachelor’s degree than Hispanics/Latinos. For Latinos, there has been a positive trend in terms of education. In 1988, 10% of Latino adults (25 years or older) had obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher. In 2015, the rate rose to 15%. However, compared to non-Hispanic whites (36% in 2015), Latinos still lag far behind. Latinos were the only group where the percentage of the native population with a bachelor’s degree or higher was higher than the percentage of the foreign-born ...

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Hospitals Establish Latino Health Outreach Programs



According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Latinos have different degrees of health risks, including a 50% higher death rate from diabetes, a 23% more chance of obesity, a 24% chance poorly controlled high blood pressure, and Latinos are less likely to be screened for health issues. To meet the unique health care needs of the Latino population in northeast New Jersey, the Clara Maass Medical Center and the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center have each launched programs aimed at improving Latino health. Clara Maass Medical Center has established the Center for Excellence for Latino Health, while Newark Beth Israel Medical Center has created the Hispanic Health Outreach Program. The Hispanic Health Outreach Program was designed to raise awareness about the health ...

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More Latino Children in Texas Go Uninsured



A new study published by the International Journal for Equity in Health reported on the still-existing gap among the children of Latino parents. According to the findings, reported by The Washington Post, nearly 50% reported not realizing they were eligible for free or low-cost health insurance. This often forced families to make the decision of paying for health care or going without. The study was conducted in Dallas, Tex. (41.7% Latino population) from 2011-2014. During the study, 49% of the parents were unaware that their children were eligible for Medicaid or CHIP; 57% of these were Latino parents. “It tells us that this system is not designed to keep kids on insurance,” says Glenn Flores, a health-policy researcher and pediatrician at Medical Research Institute and the ...

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Fewer Latinos Are Seeking Medical Attention in Nebraska



More and more people are making strides in obtaining health care coverage, partly in response to the passing of the Affordable Care Act. For Latinos, they are still the largest uninsured population in the country. All across the country, Latinos are the fastest growing population. This is no exception in the state of Nebraska. However, Latinos in Nebraska lag far behind in both medical care and health insurance coverage. Over 35% of all Latino adults between the ages of 18 and 64 do not have a personal physician. This has been shown to lead to a host of potentially serious medical conditions. “Lack of medical care. Latinos do not have access to health or mental health services, they don't have a medical home or primary care facility,” said Dr. Aida Maisonet Giachello, research ...

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HHS Offers Health Insurance Tips



The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has recently offered resources on getting the most out of your healthcare coverage. Four essential tips can be utilized to successfully manage health insurance all year long. Pay your first month’s premium. You have to pay your premium each month to keep your health insurance benefits. Turn in your paperwork. All of your information must be submitted for your coverage to take effect. Update your personal and financial information. Make sure you take note of any “life changes” (change of income, change of household size, residence, etc.) as soon as they happen. File your income taxes. If you had a tax credit in 2015, you must file your 2015 federal income tax return. Open enrollment for 2017 health plans begins on ...

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