By: Laura Gomez Cadena and Sheila Yahyazadeh

As Latinas within CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s Maryland Medicaid plan and Healthworx Ventures divisions, it has been inspiring to see the recent level of emphasis placed on both creating policy and developing innovations to care for Latine communities still lacking resources within the United States. To celebrate Hispanic heritage month, we want to highlight the impact this population has on the U.S. economy and healthcare system, the current barriers to care, and opportunities for innovators to better serve this population with the support of a payer.

Across the US, Latines have a positive impact. We were responsible for 39%  of the national economic growth for 2020 and 2021 alone. However, despite being one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the country at 18.5% of the population, Latines continue to experience barriers to healthcare. One fifth of the Hispanic population find themselves without insurance, the highest rate of any U.S. ethnic or racial group.

This lack of access to care is not only a cost to the healthcare system but also perpetuates health inequity. Populations that experience delayed care, missed diagnosis, and limited access to modern medicine have a higher healthcare spend.

In order to close the gap and get this underserved group of people access to the care they need and deserve, there is much to do within both the public and private sector, and fortunately there have been recent policy initiatives to do just that around the country.

In the state of Maryland, the Access to Care Act allows undocumented residents to purchase and enroll in health plans via Maryland’s Health Connection starting in 2026. Additionally, the Healthy Babies Equity Act provides Maryland Medicaid insurance for prenatal and postpartum care to pregnant people regardless of immigration status.

Maryland is not alone. California, the first state to offer health insurance for undocumented immigrants, has even broader coverage for this population. Changes are happening at the state and federal level with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) setting priorities to increase language access for people with limited English proficiency.

These policy shifts set the stage for innovation within the healthtech ecosystem, creating a perfect opportunity for startups to start closing the gap. These companies vary from enhanced care management solutions like Zocalo, to mental health support like Sanarai. Solutions in the space vary from those who have a payer-centric customer base (in states for which this is relevant) to employer customers. As the government prioritizes coverage for this population, there are plenty of opportunities to leverage the current wave of innovation to better serve them.

With this in mind, to truly drive impact in the Latine Community, healthtech innovators must work alongside payers to reach this population now being covered by insurance. Out of pocket business models in healthtech create access barriers and given Hispanics have been historically overlooked by the system, these models will have a harder time having scalable impact. Payers are recognizing the importance of reaching the Latine population and are looking for ways to meet their unique needs. This group is not homogenous and requires an understanding of diverse community needs. As innovators think about how to address the market challenge, they will do well in working with payers to consider the following:

●       Closing gaps in current infrastructure (people, process, technology) by reducing language barriers and increasing cultural competency

●       Working with existing community organizations that serve as trusted sources for the Latine population. These can be integrated into public-private partnerships that can be leveraged to create wrap around services for Latines

●       Creating hybrid approaches to care – leveraging virtual and in person components (e.g  promotoras de salud)

●       Developing specific consumer experiences for Latines: Creating customer experience journeys that improve access and quality of service

●       Focusing on care for the multi-generational household. In 2022, 32% of Latine households were multi-generational.  Family is core to Latine culture – caregiving is a large part of this

●       Addressing the unmet needs in mental health for Latines: Shortages in providers with multicultural and bilingual backgrounds

The Latine population in the U.S. is not insignificant, and given its consistent growth, as well as the countless ways in which these individuals contribute to society, it’s time for our healthcare system to make these necessary shifts to provide them with the access and quality care they both need and deserve. We’re proud to be a part of an organization that advocates for underserved populations and look forward to building a better and healthier future for all.