Latino/x Session 1

 

“I called the doctor’s office to ask about scheduling my son’s surgery. They asked me, ‘Is this with insurance or Medi-Cal?’ I feel like health providers prefer kids with private insurance.”

Session Infographic (PDF)

Overview

• Community Partner: Latino Health Access
• Location: Santa Ana, CA
• Date: January 27, 2024
• Population: Latino/x Medi-Cal members

Things We Heard

• Operational Barriers
• Available Benefits/Services
• Behavioral and Mental Health
• Income Restrictions
• Documentation
• Language Accessibility
• Lack of Humanity in Health Care Interactions
• Technological Accessibility

Population of Focus

Nearly 40 percent of California’s population – and nearly 50 percent of the state’s Medi-Cal population – identifies as Latino/x . Despite being a vital part of California’s culture and economy, research from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) shows that Latino/x Californians have more difficulty finding a doctor and are less likely to use mental health services than other groups. They are also more likely to get diagnosed late with breast cancer and are more likely to contract and die from COVID-19. They are also underrepresented among health care workers: despite being the largest racial/ethnic group in the state, they represent only 6 percent of the state’s physicians and 8 percent of the state’s medical school graduates.