Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Access to Affordable Health Care for Latinos Buenos Días,   This week we kickoff National Hispanic Heritage month (September 15-October 15). In recognition, the President honored the contributions of Hispanic Americans in his 2013 National Hispanic Heritage Month Presidential Proclamation and declared September 15 through September 21, 2013, National Hispanic-Serving Institutions week. Over the next four weeks, we will continue to celebrate the defining heritage, culture, and contributions of Hispanics and Latino Americans in the United States.  In addition to Hispanic Heritage month, in a few short weeks every American, in every community, will have access to affordable health insurance. Starting on October 1st, also known as Enrollment Day, individuals can purchase insurance in the Health Insurance Marketplace. As a community, we must focus on educating, engaging, and enrolling Latinos in the new Marketplace to ensure all Latinos benefit from the security of health insurance. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage month and the opening of the Health Insuring Marketplace, this week, the White House is highlighting how Latinos benefit from the Affordable Care Act. President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the Affordable Care Act's Medical Loss Ratio Refunds, in the East Room of the White House, July 18, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Did you know:  The Affordable Care Act will provide 10.2 million, or 1 in 3, uninsured Latino Americans an opportunity to get affordable health insurance coverage; An estimated 8.2 million Latino Americans with private insurance now have access to expanded preventive services with no cost-sharing. These services include well-child visits, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, Pap tests and mammograms for women, and flu shots for children and adults; 913,000 Latino young adults between ages 19 and 25 who would have been uninsured now have coverage under their parent’s employer-sponsored or individually purchased health plan. 3.9 million elderly and disabled Latinos who receive health coverage from Medicare have access to many preventive services with no cost-sharing, including annual wellness visits with personalized prevention plans, colorectal cancer and obesity screening, and mammograms; Check out the infographic below for more details on how the ACA provides better health coverage  Latinos and their families.  To learn more about how the Affordable Care Act benefits you and to get ready for open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace visit HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov. The President also took the opportunity to recognize several dedicated Latinos through recent nominations and appointments. In addition to the recent appointment of Adrian Saenz as the Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Latinos continue to be appointed across the Administration to support the President’s Agenda, including: Luis G. Moreno – Nominated for the Ambassador to Jamaica, Department of State Stephen N. Zack – Nominated for the alternate Representative of the United States to the Sixty-eighth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations David J. Arroyo – Nominated for Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Erica Gonzalez – Appointed to join the 2013-2014 Class of White House Fellows  As always, please share with your networks, get engaged in educating the Latino community about the Health Insurance Marketplaces, and use our new hashtag: #OurSalud. Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!  Julie Chávez Rodriguez Associate Director White House | Office of Public Engagement  Agency Updates Statement from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on Hispanic Heritage MonthU.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker today issued a statement commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month. National Hispanic Heritage Month 2013: A statement by HHS Secretary Kathleen SebeliusSeptember 16, 2013Beginning September 15, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, recognizing the Latino community’s contributions to the cultural richness and diversity of the United States. This year, the theme, “Hispanics: Serving and leading Our Nation with Pride and Honor,” highlights how Latinos have helped shape and strengthen all aspects of our society – from industry and research, to faith, education, arts and entertainment, and health. U.S. Education Secretary will Conclude "Strong Start, Bright Future" Back-to-School Bus Tour with Visit to a Promise Neighborhood School in Chula Vista, CaliforniaSeptember 13, 2013U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and senior staff at the Department of Education will wrap up the 2013 back-to-school bus tour—“Strong Start, Bright Future”—with a visit to a Promise Neighborhood school in Chula Vista, Calif., on Friday, Sept. 13. Health Care Law Saves Consumers $1.2 Billion NationwideSeptember 12, 2013A new report by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that 6.8 million consumers saved an estimated $1.2 billion on health insurance premiums in 2012, due to the “rate review” provision of the Affordable Care Act, which brought unprecedented accountability to slow the growth of health insurance premiums. The Affordable Care Act, along with state efforts, continues to bring scrutiny to proposed health insurance rate increases and is saving consumers real money as a result. US Transportation Secretary Foxx Announces $474 Million for 52 TIGER 2013 Projects in 37 StatesSeptember 6, 2013U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced that 52 transportation projects in 37 states will receive a total of approximately $474 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2013 discretionary grant program. One project will use technology, streetscaping and transit improvements to connect the town of Sweetwater with Florida International University (FIU). Together they will increase access to jobs on the FIU campus and link two portions of campus that are currently disconnected. Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Virginia School District to Ensure Equal Opportunities for English Language Learner StudentsSeptember 5, 2013The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division has reached a comprehensive settlement agreement with the Prince William County School District in Virginia to improve services for approximately 13,000 students who are English Language Learners (ELLs) and provide language access for Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents district-wide. White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics Announces Back-to-School Texas TourAugust 29, 2013The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics (WHIEEH) will travel through Texas on a back-to-school outreach tour from Wednesday, Sept. 4, to Friday, Sept.6, 2013. The tour will jump-start the U.S. Department of Education's "Strong Start, Bright Future" Back-to-School Bus Tour that will begin Monday, Sept. 9, 2013 in Santa, Fe, NM and will continue along the Southwest border to California. US Department of Education Awards $12.3 Million in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling GrantsAugust 16, 2013The U.S. Department of Education awarded $12.3 million to 35 schools districts in 17 states across the country to establish or expand counseling programs. Grantees will use funds to support counseling programs in targeted elementary schools. Specifically, the new awards will aid schools in hiring qualified mental-health professionals with the goal of expanding the range, availability, quantity and quality of counseling services. Parents of participating students will have input in the design and implementation of counseling services supported by these grants. The Marketplace is Only a Call, Click, or Conversation AwayAugust 15, 2013Starting October 1, 2013, the new Health Insurance Marketplace will make it easier for individual consumers and small businesses to make a side-by-side comparison of multiple coverage options. The Marketplace will also tell you whether you qualify for lower premiums and then give you 3 ways to enroll: online, by mail, or in-person at a designated help center. New Resources Available to Help Consumers Navigate the Health Insurance MarketplaceAugust 15, 2013Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $67 million in grant awards to 105 Navigator grant applicants in Federally-facilitated and State Partnership Marketplaces. These Navigator grantees and their staff will serve as an in-person resource for Americans who want additional assistance in shopping for and enrolling in plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace beginning this fall. Also today, HHS recognized more than 100 national organizations and businesses who have volunteered to help Americans learn about the health care coverage available in the Marketplace. Get Ready for the Health Insurance Marketplace: Create an AccountJuly 30, 2013Open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace begins on October 1, but in the meantime you can create a Health Insurance Marketplace account on HealthCare.gov right now to get ready. Available en español Blog Highlights Statement from the President on the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing in Birmingham, AlToday, we remember Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley who were killed 50 years ago in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The Employment Situation in August Over the last four years, we’ve cleared away the rubble from the financial crisis and begun to lay a new foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth. With continued solid job gains, today’s employment report is another sign of progress, but we must continue to pursue policies that move our economy forward and restore middle class security. Available en español What the Affordable Care Act Means to Communities of ColorThere are many ways we can measure the impact of the Affordable Care Act – from the more than 500,000 previously uninsured African American young adults who have gained coverage from a parent’s health plan, to the 10.2 million uninsured Latinos who will be eligible for coverage through the Marketplace, to the 7.3 million African Americans and 8.2 million Latinos who already had insurance but can now receive preventive services, such as diabetes and cancer screenings, at no extra cost. But perhaps the most powerful measure of the law’s capacity to change lives and lift communities comes from real-life stories. Available en español What You Need to Know about the Health Care Law – Open Enrollment Begins October 1Fall isn’t just the time when kids go back to school; it also means enrollment under the Affordable Care Act is just around the corner. Starting on October 1, people without health care insurance -- including 10.2 million Latinos -- will be able to shop through the new health care marketplace to compares prices and plans and get covered. No one plans to get sick or hurt, but most people need medical care at some point. Health insurance covers these costs and protects you from very high expenses.