Uninsured more than a statistic, East Bay leaders say

Posted by Catherine Stifter  September 24, 2009

http://www.contracostatimes.com/argus/localnews/ci_13404739?source=rss&nclick_ch...

Three months ago, more than 300 families had their names on a waiting list to receive health care services at La Clinica de La Raza's offices in the Fruitvale section of Oakland.

Today, the list has ballooned to 700 families.

For Chief Executive Officer Jane Garcia, the list is an all-too-real verification of last week's statistics on the uninsured, released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

More than 285,000 East Bay residents, or 12 percent of the population in Alameda County and 11 percent in Contra Costa County, lack coverage.

"We know firsthand that there are thousands of uninsured people coming to our clinics," Garcia said. "The clinics are stretched to the limit. We have the perfect storm."

Read more in the Contra Costa Times.

Tags: La Clinica de La Raza
Topics: Civic Life, Community Health, Cultural Competence, Economics, Family, Health Care, Health Care Access, Immigrants, Public Health