Accessibility and affordability of the Affordable Health Care Act among Latinos in Watsonville,CA

This research examined health access for Latinos in Watsonville, CAby looking into the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and if the ACA has made a significant change in the ability for Latinos in Watsonville to have a yearly visit to the doctor or dentist for preventative care. This research investigated the 2017-2018 California Health Interview Survey and the 2015 and 2017 American Community Survey to find if health care has increased for Latinos. The research has also collected informal interviews with local Latino residents from Watsonville to gain a more personal perspective to go with the larger state perspective. The purpose of seeking these answers were to find what gaps in the ACA exist with the intention to improve health equity for Latinos. Results from this research showed that while health insurance has increased, no change was found in frequency of doctor visits. The implications for this research pointed to California legislation along with groundwork needed in social work.