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United States-Mexico Binational Health Week Receives Support From Private and Public Health Insurance Plans

Posted on: Monday, 25 October 2004, 16:00 CDT

Access to appropriate health care services does not only depend on one's ability to afford health insurance coverage, it is also contingent on understanding the insurance system. For this reason, both private and public health insurance plans including Health Net, Inc., Blue Cross of California, PacifiCare Health Systems, and L.A. Health Care Plan, are making a significant effort through their support of the Fourth Annual Binational Health Week (BHW) to inform Latino communities about the best ways to utilize their insurance coverage. These organizations are also educating Latino communities about health risks associated with heart disease, strokes, cancer, and diabetes.

As a pioneer in the development of binational health insurance products, Health Net understands that health care has no borders. Health Net has mobilized internal and external resources to support the fourth annual BHW events and health fairs in 14 counties within California. The company will continue to collaborate with this important initiative to find solutions for the health care access issues that exist on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Health Net was the first private health plan to support the efforts of the California-Mexico Health Initiative which established BHW in 2001.

Blue Cross of California is committed to supporting health care programs in California that provide in-language health care information and education for the underserved communities. During Binational Health Week and in partnering with the Mexican Consulate, Blue Cross of California works to ensure individuals and families have access to health care and are informed about the benefits that having health coverage brings.

L.A. Care Health Plan is a public agency that serves over 750,000 low and moderate-income Los Angeles residents through the Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and Healthy Kids programs. L.A. Care is part of the Children's Health Initiative of Greater Los Angeles, a public/private coalition that has raised over $86 million to fund health coverage for children, regardless of immigration status. After only three months, over 20,000 children now have health coverage as a result. L.A. Care joins with the California-Mexico Health Initiative to continue working together for the health of Los Angeles residents.

PacifiCare Health Systems serves more than 12 million health plan and specialty plan members and is celebrating its 25th anniversary as one of the nation's largest consumer health organizations. PacifiCare's Latino Health Solutions division is taking action to develop programs for Latinos that are both culturally sensitive and linguistically accurate. PacifiCare has actively participated in BHW events since its inception and is also committed to supporting BHW as it brings health education and services to underserved populations.

BACKGROUND: Binational Health Week is a series of health-promotion and health-education activities that provide underserved migrants and immigrants with health information and medical services. The California-Mexico Health Initiative organized the first BHW in 2001 with the support of Mexico's Secretariat of Health and Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, California's Department of Health Services, The California Endowment and over 400 organizations. This year, BHW expands to 17 other states in collaboration with the Institute for Mexicans Abroad (IME) Health Commission and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission.

During the fourth annual Binational Health Week in California, over 95,000 people received health interventions through the 364 events organized in partnerships with approximately 470 agencies. -0- *T The following Binational Health Week partners will be available for interviews: -- Ana Andrade--Vice President, Health Net, Inc. Binational Health Week Platinum Sponsor Phone: (818) 676-7375 -- Josh Valdez--Senior Vice President, Blue Cross of California Binational Health Week Gold Sponsor Phone: (818) 234-8615 -- Andrea Van Hook--Director of Communications, L.A. Care Health Plan Phone: (213) 694-1250, ext. 4142 Binational Health Week Gold Sponsor -- Dan Miller--Public and Press Relations Manager, Pacificare Health Systems Phone: (714) 226-3726 Binational Health Week Bronze Sponsor *T

Source: Business Wire

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