Kids of all backgrounds need health coverage and access to quality care. As we reflect on April as Minority Health Month, we are grateful that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is already working – and will continue to improve health care choices and outcomes – for kids and families.
For minority children in Wisconsin, celebrating Minority Health Month is of great importance – particularly for children from birth to their first birthday. Racial and ethnic minorities are especially at risk of adverse birth outcomes – including infant mortality. The most recent data – released from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services – shows that, compared to the white infant mortality rate of 4.4 (per 1,000), black infant mortality was more than three times as much – 13.9 deaths (per 1,000) – which is one of the worst disparities that exist in any state in the United States.
In light of those alarming numbers, it is no wonder that the infant mortality crisis in Wisconsin has been the topic of discussion for Minority Health Month – with community members and advocates gathering to unveil action plans to address this issue, this month.
The ACA will assist community action plans in addressing this issue by making it easier for expecting mothers to receive the needed prenatal care to have healthy babies, and by addressing other issues that can lead to adverse birth outcomes. Examples include counseling to stop smoking or addressing chronic issues like hypertension, which is important since minorities are more likely to have multiple chronic issues than their white peers.
Further, the ACA has already shown promising results in increasing access to health care for minorities. One popular provision of the law, allowing young adults to stay on their parent’s insurance plan until their 26th birthday, has helped minority young adults greatly.
The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that this provision has enabled 1.3 million minority young adults to have health insurance, including:
- 763,000 Latinos
- 410,000 African Americans
- 97,000 Asian Americans
- 9,000 American Indian/Alaskans
Other provisions of the law can help address the disparities that exist in accessing and receiving quality health care. The health care exchanges that begin in 2014 will allow for a one-stop place for accessing care. Families will be able to enroll in a health plan, see if they qualify for subsidies to pay for premiums or enroll into Medicaid if they are of lower income.
Eliminating the disparities in health care outcomes and access is crucial for Wisconsin families. The provisions discussed here, which will increase quality prenatal care and birth outcomes, and increase the number of young minority adults who are insured, are just some of what the ACA has to offer. To learn more about Minority Health Month, link here or to read how the ACA is already helping the Latino community, here.
Lacy Langbecker
