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The vision of Latinos for National Health Insurance

By admin | January 7, 2006

Vision
The vision of Latinos for National Health Insurance (LNHI) is that health care is a human right that’s should be guaranteed to every person living in the United States–regardless of health or immigration status.

Mission
LNHI’s mission is to serve as a Latino focused advocacy group to establish a comprehensive, universal, accessible, equitable and affordable program of national health insurance covering every person living in the United States.

LNHI will accomplish its mission through:
1) Coalition formation:

To collaborate with leading Latino serving groups and organization as well as other individuals and organizations to support efforts aimed at achieving single payer national health insurance.

2) Education:

Through presentations, publications, and other outreach and advocacy efforts inform groups and organizations including elected officials of the insurance crisis in the Latino community and the need for comprehensive approach to health insurance coverage based on national health insurance.


Estimados amigos,
Many of us work in the communities where you live. Over the years, as insurance companies make billions in profits, we’ve seen small children get inadequate care because of lack of coverage, hard working Latinos delaying seeking medical care because of high deductibles and co-payments. And people without insurance are robbed of their dignity—there is nothing more humiliating than having to beg for something you deserve.

People are demanding a change. We believe that a single payer, non-for-profit national health insurance can end the problem of the millions of uninsured that is affecting nuestra gente; and can also bring equality in our health care services.

There is already a plan in Congress that can end this crisis: it is HR 676. “The United States National Health Insurance Act.” This plan proposes an extension of Medicare, that truly American–truly red, white and blue program– to every person in this nation.

As part of our advocacy we have made presentations in Washington DC at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute and Congressional Black Caucus Forum this past September; at the 4th Annual Latino Health conference at NY Medical Center, and we have been interviewed and published in many news organizations. And this past December 14 we were part of a Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill titled “The Latino Health Insurance Crisis: A Forgotten Community”. This was a great success. Five Latinos members of Congress—Solis, Napolitano, Cuellar, Hinojosa and Loretta Sanchez—came and spoke in support of our efforts.

We know we are fighting an uphill battle, but it’s worth it. This is not a political issue. This is an ethical issue. As a country, what are we willing to do for our fellow human beings in need? In the coming years there will be changes in our healthcare system and it’s important that we Latinos be on the table representing the Rodriguezes, the Montoyas and Riveras of our communities. We want to work with you to make sure we get a truly democratic and fair healthcare system. I hope to hear from you soon.

Trabajando juntos por nuestra gente,

Dr. Jaime R. Torres, National Coordinator
For the Steering Committee
New York City
917.304.6886
latinohealth@msn.com

“The idea of people worried about their health and worried
about money is barbarous. It’s ego corruption. ”

Eli Siegel, Philosopher and founder of Aesthetic Realism

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