FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2013

Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343

National Minority Health Month a time to advance health equity

A statement by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

April 1, 2013 marks the beginning of National Minority Health Month, a time when we reflect on the incredible opportunity we face as a nation to improve minority health, advance health equity, and eliminate health disparities.

Fifty years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial “to remind America of the fierce urgency of now”. That message is as meaningful today as it was in 1963. Despite the progress our nation has made over the past 50 years, racial and ethnic minorities continue to have the highest rates of being uninsured, are less likely to have a regular source of care, and are less likely to get the quality, preventive care they need to stay healthy. Now is the time for communities to come together to improve health outcomes for people of color. The theme for National Minority Health Month this year is “Advance Health Equity Now: Uniting Our Communities to Bring Health Care Coverage to All.” 

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the landmark legislation signed by President Obama three years ago, we are making strides toward the dream of giving every American a fair shot at quality affordable health coverage regardless of their race or ethnicity. The health care law addresses the needs of minority populations and other underserved groups by bringing down health care costs, investing in prevention, and supporting improvements in primary care and Medicare.

For the first time, Americans will be able to go to one place to learn about their coverage options; get accurate information about their choices; and make apples-to-apples comparisons of private insurance plans. With a single application, they will also be able to find out if they qualify for a free or low-cost plan, or for a new kind of tax credit that lowers their monthly premiums right away. Because the law finally bans discrimination against pre-existing conditions like diabetes or asthma, nobody will be turned away because of their health status.

Later this year, millions of Americans will gain access to health coverage that meets their needs and fits their budget at the new Health Insurance Marketplaces. The Marketplaces will give Americans who are uninsured or who buy their own coverage a simple way to shop for insurance. Starting Oct. 1, 2013, Americans can enroll through the Marketplaces for health coverage beginning as early as Jan. 1, 2014.

Achieving health equity means each of us has an equal opportunity to attain optimal health. Let’s recommit ourselves and our communities to act now to eliminate health disparities. We cannot afford to wait.

To learn more about National Minority Health Month and what the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is doing to reduce health disparities and achieve health equity, see http://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov.

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Last revised: April 1, 2013

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