Hispanic groups wrote a second letter to congressional leaders to raise their concerns about provisions in the current health care bill that negatively targets minority communities. They believe that the current legislation will have a disproportionately negative impact on low-income minority groups and will lead to Medicare cuts for Hispanic seniors, increase in taxes for Hispanic small businesses and reduced wages for Hispanic workers. Congress has failed to listen to their concerns.
Hispanic companies, driven by small businesses, are among the fastest-growing business segments in the United States, growing more than three times faster than the national average. Employer mandates would be an added expense to these Hispanic small businesses as well as lead to lower wages for Hispanic workers. The individual mandate will be a burden on all Americans. Capital investment in new and established businesses will fall under the tax scheme proposed in the reconciliation language.
The Medicare Advantage cuts will negatively and disproportionately target Hispanic seniors. 80% of Hispanic seniors making less than $20,000 per year are on Medicare Advantage. These cuts will force low income, minority seniors out of their current plans into a traditional Medicare program with higher costs and fewer benefits.
Congress has spent enough time supporting an unpopular health care bill that expands government without providing quality care and true accessibility and affordability to minority communities.