With Democrats worried that too few people will sign up for “Obamacare” to make it a success, President Obama will urge Hispanics in California Friday to enroll for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
In San Jose after a night of Democratic fundraisers, Mr. Obama will “highlight efforts to ensure that Latinos are enrolled in California,” including outreach through Spanish-language media outlets, a White House official said.
Some of the law’s advocates are concerned that too few of America’s 49 million uninsured will know about health coverage offered in their own states. Enrollment begins Oct. 1.
Altogether, 10.2 million Hispanic-Americans nationwide are uninsured and will be eligible for health insurance. California has nearly six million uninsured residents, including more than one million “subsidy-eligible” Hispanics, making the state “critical” to the president’s program, the White House official said.
California last week said it had chosen WellPoint Inc. and a dozen other insurers to offer plans in its new system. Peter Lee, executive director of the state’s insurance exchange, said individuals can expect to pay as much as 29 percent less than what small businesses now pay for coverage.
But Forbes reported last week that “Obamacare” will increase individual-market premiums in California by as much as 146 percent.
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The White House said Mr. Obama will discuss “recent, promising news that when insurers and providers have to compete for business, consumers win.”
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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