Latino community urged to sign up for health insurance

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- Health outreach workers hope to encourage the

immigrant Latino community to sign up for federal- and state-subsidized

health insurance at a Healthy Communities Fair on Sunday.

Organizers at the Orange County Congregation Community Organization

expect 1,000 families to attend the health fair, which will take place at

St. Joaquim’s Catholic Church in Costa Mesa. A number of services and

screenings will be provided but the main objective is to get families to

enroll in health insurance programs.

Immigrants applying for green cards and citizenship have shied away

from public aid, including health insurance programs, because of a fear

that doing so could hurt their chances, said Alma Vergara, health

outreach coordinator for the Orange County congregation.

“Unfortunately, a lot of our people don’t have health insurance,”

Vergara said.

Instead, Latino immigrants often choose to go to Mexico for health

care or limit their treatment to over-the-counter medications when they

should really see a doctor, Vergara said.

Although cash welfare programs might hurt a person’s chances of

getting a green card, health care programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy

Families will not, Vergara said. Also, a person cannot be denied U.S.

citizenship for lawfully receiving benefits, including cash welfare,

health care, food programs and non-cash programs, she said.

In addition to health care enrollment, the fair will feature

screenings for blood pressure, dental health, hearing, hemoglobin, vision

and immunization. Families who take part also will be familiarized with

local hospitals, clinics, and other health services in the county.

The Healthy Communities Fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday

at St. Joaquim’s Church, 1664 Orange Ave.