Google hangout with Secretary Burwell!

Very recently I had the pleasure of being invited to be on a Google hangout with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell. I was joined by 2 other Latina blogger powerhouses, Elisa Batista and Monique Frausto, and it was hosted by my dear friend, the brilliant Elianne Ramos.

From November 15th until February 15, 2015 you can now shop, enroll or renew affordable healthcare insurance in the marketplace at Healthcare.gov o en español Cuidado de Salud.gov.

Since the first open enrollment period more than 10 million people who did not insurance before are now covered, including 2.6 million Latinos (ages 18-64) who gained health insurance coverage since the start of the Affordable Care Act initial open enrollment period in October 2013, a 7.7 percentage point drop in the uninsured rate over that period.

For women, we now have well-woman visits covered at no cost which includes cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, and prenatal services among many other services. For a full list of what’s covered, click here.

I’m so happy that we as women no longer have to view basic and necessary services as a true economic burden, especially when for many of us we are both the primary caretakers and financial providers for our families.aAa a Latina woman, I know there are still gaps in women’s health education and coverage to all women, and from looking at statistics, especially women of color. Beyond acknowledging that this exists, I wanted to know how we all can work towards decreasing these numbers.

My question to Secretary Burwell was as follows:

What are your plans to improve access to reproductive health care for women of color? Especially in those states that have rejected Medicaid expansion?

I want to thank Secretary Burwell for answering my question, and the questions of my fellow panelists!

XOXO Helen