Dainel Zingale Sr. Vice President Healthy California

President Obama signed the historic health care bill six months ago, making it the law of the land.  Now it’s our turn to see that it works. The California Endowment is launching a major educational project to help explain what the new law means for Californians, especially for our 14 Building Healthy Communities (BHC).

Our community partners have told us that the more people know about the law, the more they like it.  But they need some help getting the benefits they’re now entitled to.  We plan to get that help to them through ads, op-eds, and local events that will help folks understand what benefits are currently available to them through the health law.

It will also help our communities become the healthy ones that each is striving to be.  In fact, the new health law is a major boost to achieving three (out of 10) of the goals they’ve set for themselves:

1. All children have health coverage, with medical, dental, vision and mental health care that is accessible and affordable.

2. Families have improved access to a "health home" that supports healthy behaviors.  A "health home" may be a clinic with a primary doctor who provides culturally appropriate care for the whole family and safe places for the children to deal with problems like obesity and depression.

3. Prevention rules!  Preventing illness in the first place is the best way to avoid a medical crisis.

For starters, we’re focusing on 3 groups in our educational push: Latinos, the business community, and Californians under 26.

Latino community:

In September, we’ll be running television spots that’ll explain what the law means for low-to middle-income Latino families.  There will also be radio, print, online ads and op-ed pieces explaining the many ways it will help the community.

Business community:

No one understands the issues of businesses, large and small, better than the members themselves.  That’s why TCE is sponsoring business roundtables and other gatherings where leaders can help explain the benefits that are available to all of them.  Here too, the more members know about the law, the more prepared they are to engage in a positive way.

Youth community:

On September 23, several benefits will kick in that will affect children, youth and young adults up to age 26.  We want them to know what the new law has in store for them.  So, we’re going online, starting with a website and a social media campaign.

Finally, in September and October each of our communities will be hosting educational events with entertainment, food, and answers to a whole list of questions about the health law.  

Right now too many people don’t understand the law and consequently they don’t take advantage of it.  Learning more about it will help you, help your community, and help California.  Check out our new health law resource pages in English and Spanish to learn how the law will help your friends and family.

And then go out into your community and help us spread the word!

Radio personality and author Dr. Isabel Gomez-Bassols, better known as La Doctora Isabel, el Angel de la Radio, speaks openly about the benefits of the new health care law for the Latino community.