The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) and La Opinión, the nation’s largest Spanish-language daily newspaper, today released "Todo Sobre el Plan de Seguro Medico" (“All About Health Insurance”), a special supplement available to anyone looking for objective information on health insurance access and issues.

The new Spanish-language guide provides a variety of health information to those seeking insurance. Highlights include:

• Articles on the positive impact that health insurance and health promotoras have made on families who didn’t know help was available;
• A brief comparison of public health and benefit programs;
• Articles on the financial impact of various health insurance options; and
• Resources for obtaining additional information and assistance in identifying affordable health care.

Recent data show a number of health discrepancies in the Latino population when compared to any other population in the United States. For example, Latinos account for 55% of the uninsured in California. People without insurance are less likely to seek preventive screenings such as blood pressure checks, pap smears, breast exams, prenatal care, etc. The uninsured are also much more likely to say that they have had to delay or forgo needed care. The same is true for those without prescription drug coverage.

The growing need for Spanish-language health information prompted the California HealthCare Foundation and La Opinión to provide California’s growing Latino population with a helpful resource.

"Todo Sobre el Plan de Seguro Medico" will be distributed both in La Opinión and via a network of Spanish-language newspapers in California. The free supplement will also be available by order and through a network of community-based organizations serving Spanish-speaking communities throughout California.