
In the midst of incredible scenery, close to the Oregon border, lies Smith River, California, a small rural town of less than a thousand inhabitants. The “Easter Lily Capital of the World” is home to farm workers and their families, who know little or nothing about the medical services they can access.
In an exclusive interview for Península 360 Press, Manuel Ortiz spoke with some of these workers to learn more about their lives and the situations they go through when they get sick or need medical services.
The agricultural workers who live in this small town are mostly Mexican, mainly from Veracruz, Jalisco and Guanajuato. Learn more about this incredible interview that Manuel conducted, which was broadcast on “Por la Libre”, the mobile community radio station of Península 360 Press.
“We have spoken on other occasions about the public health service Medi-Cal, which offers free or low-cost health coverage to eligible people who live in California. As of January 1, 2024, Medi-Cal had a historic expansion of its services, which now include, among many others, dental, vision, and mental health care. In addition, as of this year, undocumented people can also be eligible for Medi-Cal and the program is not considered a public charge, so it does not affect the process of fixing their immigration status. However, despite the benefits offered by this expansion of Medi-Cal, many people still do not know that it exists,” says Manuel Ortiz.
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