Healthcare a top concern for Arizonans amid COVID-19 outbreak

Arizonans seeking access, options, and coverage when it comes to their health care.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Charlene Fernandez, (D) Arizona House of Representatives, says "If you don’t have health insurance, the last thing you’re going to do is go to the doctor and say you’d like to be tested for the coronavirus.

This pandemic has Arizonans seeking access, options, and coverage when it comes to their health care.

Open enrollment for 2020 health care plans under the Affordable Care Act ended before the U.S. was aware of the coronavirus pandemic.

But, as Arizona's economy comes to a standstill, thousands of Arizona workers have been laid off or furloughed; losing income and scrambling for health insurance.

Fernandez, said, “A lot of our constituents are going to junk insurance. The term junk insurance is insurance that promises something you’re not going to get. So usually when you’re in the hospital after you’ve shown your insurance card you find out they’re not going to pay 80% of the costs.”

Oftentimes resulting in bankruptcy.

That’s why Fernandez says Arizona Democrats are fighting to make sure all Arizonians are covered by medical insurance during this pandemic.

“Twenty-nine Democrats have fought for the people of Arizona to maybe apply and go through AHCCCS [Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System]. And we are committed to seeing if maybe we can open up AHCCCS for anyone in Arizona but we’ve met a lot of resistance to that.”

Another top priority, aggressive testing in rural communities.

“The coronavirus could have very well been here in Yuma County in January. There might have been deaths associated with it but we don’t know because we didn’t have active testing, which we actually in Yuma County still don’t have,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez supports Governor Ducey's move to extend the stay at home order.

For more health care options for Arizonans during this crisis, visit Honest Arizona.