RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary? A Disaster for Latino Health

Latinos are still twice as likely to be uninsured as non-Latino Whites. Many rely on Medicaid and ACA subsidies to afford care, and any disruption to these programs would hit us first and hardest.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being considered for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary, and if you’re not already alarmed, you should be.

This isn’t just another political appointment. HHS oversees Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, and public health policies that impact millions. For Latinos, who are already more likely to be uninsured, face barriers to care, and depend on programs like Medicaid, this could be catastrophic.

Who Should Make Healthcare Decisions? Not RFK Jr. and Trump.

At the core of RFK Jr.’s nomination is the question: Who should make healthcare decisions for our families? RFK Jr. and Donald Trump want the government to take those decisions away from doctors and parents.

• They want to remove parents’ ability to vaccinate their children, making it easier for preventable diseases to spread in our communities.

• They want to regulate women’s bodies and deny access to reproductive healthcare.

• This radical agenda will hurt all Americans, but for Latinos, who already face healthcare disparities, the impact will be even worse.

Many people are drawn to RFK Jr. because of his past environmental work or his rhetoric about healthy food and vaccines. But this hearing made one thing clear: RFK Jr. will do whatever Trump wants. He’s already shifted his stance on abortion to gain power, proving he won’t stand up for the health and rights of our communities.

Per Murmur’s post yesterday, here are some key things to know about RFK Jr.’s hearing:

• He was consistently inconsistent. When confronted with his own words questioning vaccines, he denied saying them. When asked about his role in creating a measles outbreak in Samoa, he pretended it didn’t happen. When asked about his stance on abortion, he flip-flopped to ensure that his views aligned with Donald Trump and the anti-choice Republicans on the panel.

• He hinted that he would look to regulate mifepristone, making it harder for women to access this important medicine.

• He consistently confused Medicaid and Medicare to the point that it’s reasonable to assume he doesn’t understand their differences.

The Reality for Latino Health

Let’s talk facts. Over the last decade, thanks to the ACA and policies championed by Democrats, the uninsured rate among Latinos dropped from 33% in 2010 to 18% in 2022 (ASPE, June 2024). But even with that progress, Latinos are still twice as likely to be uninsured as non-Latino Whites. Many rely on Medicaid and ACA subsidies to afford care, and any disruption to these programs would hit us first and hardest.

Now, enter RFK Jr., a man who has spent decades spreading dangerous, debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines and public health measures.

What’s at Stake?

1. Undermining the ACA & Medicaid
   HHS plays a major role in ensuring ACA coverage remains affordable and accessible. If RFK Jr. starts rolling back these protections, the 3.4 million Latinos currently enrolled in Marketplace coverage could see their premiums skyrocket or lose coverage altogether.
   

2. Fueling Vaccine Hesitancy in Our Communities

   Latinos were among the hardest hit by COVID-19, yet vaccination efforts helped save lives. RFK Jr. has built his brand on anti-vaccine lies, and putting him in charge of HHS could erode trust in vaccines and lead to lower vaccination rates, opening the door to preventable disease outbreaks in our communities.
   

3. Threatening Public Health Funding

   HHS funds community health centers that serve millions of uninsured and underinsured Latinos. Between 2020 and 2022, the number of Latino patients in these centers increased by 8%. RFK Jr.’s hostility toward public health programs could mean cuts to these critical services, making it harder for Latinos to access doctors, prescriptions, and preventive care.
   

4. Blocking Efforts to Close the Coverage Gap

   Latinos make up 21% of the U.S. population but 39% of the uninsured. Many live in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid. Biden fought to close these gaps, but with RFK Jr. at HHS, those efforts could stall, leaving millions of Latinos without affordable healthcare options.
   

5. Government Control Over Personal Health Decisions

   RFK Jr. and Trump don’t just want to take away vaccines; they want control over your medical decisions. This extends to reproductive rights, gender-affirming care, and access to essential medications. We’ve already seen how extreme Republican policies target our communities, and RFK Jr. will be the enforcer.

We Have to Stop This

RFK Jr. is not just another bad political pick; his confirmation would have real, harmful consequences for Latino families. We can’t afford to let him undo the progress we’ve made.

Now is the time to act. Call your senators and tell them to vote NO on RFK Jr. for HHS. The health of our community is on the line.

Here is a sample script you can use to call your Senators at the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].

I'm calling to urge [SEN NAME] oppose the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has no scientific background and has promoted dangerous lies about vaccine and drug safety. He is a direct threat to public health and has no business running the world's largest public health agency.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.

Thank you to

Jessica Craven

for this script.

You may also use this tool to email your Senators and tell them to vote NO: https://www.nixthenoms.com/

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1. Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care Among Latino Americans: Recent Trends and Key Challenges - ASPE, June 2024