A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund has uncovered alarming disparities in health insurance coverage among Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States. Despite improvements since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, more than half of this population still lacks adequate health insurance.
The 2024 Biennial Health Insurance Survey found that 55 percent of Hispanic/Latino adults are inadequately insured. This means they either have no health insurance, experienced a gap in coverage during the past year, or are underinsured with out-of-pocket costs so high relative to their income that they struggle to afford necessary care.
The consequences of this inadequate coverage are severe. Fifty-two percent of Hispanic/Latino adults reported problems accessing health care due to cost. Many have skipped recommended tests, treatments, or follow-ups, while others have avoided doctor visits despite having medical problems.
The financial burden of medical care is also significant for this community. Thirty percent of Hispanic/Latino adults are currently paying off medical or dental debt. This debt has far-reaching impacts, causing anxiety for 76 percent of those affected and forcing 42 percent to cut back on basic necessities like food, heat, or rent.
Dr. Joseph R. Betancourt, president of The Commonwealth Fund, emphasized the real-world implications of these statistics. “As a primary care physician, I regularly have patients for whom a necessary medication or a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is out of reach because of cost,” he stated.
The study highlights the urgent need for policy interventions to address these disparities. Suggestions include extending ACA Marketplace premium tax credits, lowering deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, and establishing measures to prevent coverage lapses. Without action, the health gap for Hispanic/Latino adults may continue to widen, exacerbating existing inequities in the U.S. healthcare system.
See “Hispanic/Latino Adults Lack Adequate, Affordable Health Insurance Coverage” (December 17, 2024)
