Search this site
92 results found with an empty search
- OUR WORK: Public Health Initiatives: ACA Enrollment | APIAHF
ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment refers to the period of time that takes place each fall where individuals and families can come together to compare and select health plans for the coming year. Plans change every year so it is important for people to evaluate which plan best suits their needs. PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) MARKETPLACE OPEN ENROLLMENT UPDATED AS OF OCTOBER 27, 2025 — LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES Expanding Access to Healthcare HIV Education & Outreach Tuberculosis Elimination Outreach Capacity Building Initiatives AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (ACA) MARKETPLACE OPEN ENROLLMENT UPDATED AS OF NOVEMBER 18, 2025 DOWNLOAD One Pager: Substantive Changes in the ACA Marketplace During the 2025-2026 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) Download in Korean Download in Vietnamese Download in Vietnamese - cobranded SEACMA Download in Simplified Chinese Download in Traditional Chinese Download in Marshallese Download in Arabic Download in Samoan Download in Samoan - cobranded OCAPICA Download in Tagalog Download in Spanish WEBINAR RECORDING: APIAHF x AAPCHO ACA Marketplace Webinar WATCH NOW On October 28th, 2025, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) in partnership with Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), National Health Law Program (NHeLP), North East Medical Services (NEMS), and Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) held a webinar to break down updates to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace from the recently-enacted H.R.1 and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Marketplace Final Rule. Panelists also discussed how these changes apply to the 2025-2026 Open Enrollment Period that starts on November 1, 2025 and anticipated impacts for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. What is the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace Open Enrollment? ACA Marketplace Open Enrollment refers to the period of time that takes place each fall where individuals and families can come together to compare and select health plans for the coming year. Plans change every year so it is important for people to evaluate which plan best suits their current needs. WHO QUALIFIES FOR A PLAN? To qualify for a Marketplace plan you must: Live in the United States Be a United States citizen or national, or be lawfully present (learn more about eligible immigration statuses) Not be incarcerated IMMIGRATION-RELATED CHANGES IN MARKETPLACE DACA recipients are now ineligible for discounted ACA Marketplace coverage. DACA recipients may still enroll in an ACA Marketplace plan (without assistance) or may be eligible for other low/no-cost state insurance options. Lawfully present immigrants with income below 100% FPL are ineligible for premium tax credits (PTCs) beginning January 1, 2026. KEY DATES Some states have their own ACA exchanges and have different date ranges for the 2026 Open Enrollment Period. NOV 1 2025 Open Enrollment starts for 2026. DEC 15 2025 Enroll by this date for coverage that starts January 1, 2026. DEC 31 2025 Coverage ends for 2025 Marketplace plans. JAN 1 2026 Coverage begins for 2026 plans chosen by December 15, 2025. JAN 15 2026 Open Enrollment ends for 2026. FEB 1 2026 Coverage begins for 2026 plans chosen between December 16, 2025, and January 15, 2026. ARE YOU READY TO ENROLL? Visit healthcare.gov now for your health plan or call 1-800-318-2596 ; TTY: 1-855-889-4325. Explore your ACA Marketplace for some states below, or sign up for coverage from the Federal Marketplace Exchange HERE. Find Your State Marketplace California Connecticut Colorado Georgia District of Columbia Idaho Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Virginia Washington PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION To prepare for your application you will need the following documents: Documents confirming your income Documents confirming your immigration status Documents confirming your United States citizenship Documents confirming you gained a dependent due to an adoption, foster care placement, or court order Documents if you have a data matching issue Refer to this enrollment checklist for additional information you should have ready for your application. IMPORTANT UPDATES In 2021, the federal government passed the American Rescue Plan into law which includes provisions that expands benefits for those enrolled in or looking to enroll into ACA Marketplace plans. These benefits were further expanded upon by the Inflation Reduction Act which was signed into law in 2022. These benefits include: Expansion and an increase in Advance Premium Tax Credits (APTCs) which help enrollees cover insurance premiums on health care plans purchased through the Marketplace. You might be eligible for one of these credits if you meet all of the following: Will have an annual household income above 400% of the federal poverty level Will not file a Married Filing Separately federal income tax return Must file a federal income tax return or be claimed as a tax filer’s dependent Must be enrolled in coverage through a Marketplace for one or more months of the year Are not eligible for or enrolled in other minimum essential coverage such as Medicaid or Medicare If you qualify for Medicare, the Inflation Reduction Act will save you money in the following ways: Medicare Part D improvements: Will have their insulin capped at $35 a month Will be able to access recommended vaccines such as the shingles vaccine at no cost Will have out-of-pocket costs capped at $2,000 a year Will have the option to make use of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan which will allow enrollees the option to spread their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs out throughout the year Expansion of the low-income subsidy program (LIS or “Extra Help”) under Medicare Part D to 150% of the federal poverty level starting in 2024 INFORMATION FOR DACA RECIPIENTS Important update for DACA recipients & consumers with certain other immigration statuses On December 9, 2024, the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction in Kansas v. United States of America (Case No. 1:24-cv-00150) partially blocking implementation of a final rule. This final rule allowed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and individuals in certain other noncitizen groups to enroll in a qualified health plan (QHP) through the Health Insurance Marketplace® (if otherwise eligible) for plan years 2024 and 2025, effective on November 1, 2024. As a result of the preliminary injunction, Marketplace enrollment has been placed on hold for these groups in the 19 states that are involved in the lawsuit. These states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. All of those states except Idaho, Kentucky, and Virginia are served by the Federal Marketplace platform on HealthCare.gov . To comply with this court order, DACA recipients and other noncitizens covered by the rule who reside in the above 19 plaintiff states shouldn't attest to having eligible immigration status in applications for Marketplace coverage. To further comply with the Court’s order, on December 26, 2024 the Marketplace will make a technical change so that DACA recipients and those other noncitizens covered by the rule who attest to lawful presence aren’t eligible for Marketplace coverage in the 16 states above served by HealthCare.gov . Following that technical change, the Marketplace will cancel any enrollments for 2025 Marketplace coverage selected by DACA recipients and other noncitizens covered by the rule in the 16 states. The insurance company will refund any premiums paid for that 2025 coverage. DACA recipients and those other noncitizens covered by the rule who enrolled in 2024 Marketplace coverage will have their Marketplace enrollment terminated at the end of the month and won’t have Marketplace coverage starting in 2025. The Marketplace will send a letter about ineligibility for coverage to DACA recipients and those other noncitizens covered by the rule in the 16 states. We encourage impacted consumers who had a change in their immigration status since they applied for Marketplace coverage to update their Marketplace application with their new immigration status. Check back for updates before January 15 when Marketplace Open Enrollment ends . On October 30th, 2024, the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) in partnership with the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) held a webinar to discuss the new eligibility of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Health Insurance Marketplace plans. Experts discussed necessary information for DACA recipients to understand their options for enrollment, the Special Enrollment Period, and how and where they can reach assistance for coverage. This information is current as of October 30th, 2024. In May of 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule allowing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients to enroll into health coverage through the Marketplace. DACA recipients will be able to enroll into a Marketplace plan on November 1, 2024. DACA recipients will also be eligible for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) which can make health coverage more affordable. If you are a DACA recipient you are eligible for a special enrollment period, please see the dates below: Special Enrollment Period for DACA Recipients, Key Dates: November 1, 2024 : Open Enrollment starts for 2025. November 15, 2024 : Enroll by this date for coverage that starts December 1, 2024. December 1, 2024 : Coverage begins for 2025 plans chosen by November 15, 2024 Information for Disaster Victims If you live in an area where an emergency or disaster has been declared and that has impacted your ability to sign up for or switch or drop your plans during open enrollment, you may be eligible for a special enrollment period. During a FEMA declared major or emergency disaster event, individuals living in affected areas qualify for a special enrollment period. Click here to get disaster declaration information for your area or visit Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) for a list of impacted areas, TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585. For those living in Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene disaster areas and who are unable to enroll into or change their Marketplace plans during regular open enrollment, may qualify for a special enrollment period. Individuals will be given 60 days starting from the end of the FEMA designated incident period to enroll into a new Marketplace plan or make changes to their existing plan. To enter into this Special Enrollment Period, contact the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 ; TTY: 1-855-889-4325. Language Access Information Translated resources (Courtesy of Healthcare.gov) ACA Marketplace Brochure (English) 中文 | Chinese (PDF) ગુજરાતી | Gujarati (PDF) हिंदी | Hindi (PDF) 日本語 | Japanese (PDF) 한국인 | Korean (PDF) Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese (PDF) Tagalog (PDF) Questions to ask yourself when choosing a plan (English) 中文 | Chinese (PDF) ગુજરાતી | Gujarati (PDF) हिंदी | Hindi (PDF) 日本語 | Japanese (PDF) 한국인 | Korean (PDF) Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese (PDF) Tagalog (PDF) Get Covered: Things to know about the Health Insurance Marketplace (English) 中文 | Chinese (PDF) ગુજરાતી | Gujarati (PDF) हिंदी | Hindi (PDF) 日本語 | Japanese (PDF) 한국인 | Korean (PDF) Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese (PDF) Tagalog (PDF) Click Here to find Local Assistance on Healthcare.gov Enter your Zip Code or Use Your Current Location Click on the different filters that are applicable to you and your family Choose your language from the dropdown menu Click “Apply filter” for each filter you use Click Here to get information on getting contacted by an agent or broker. Enter your Zip Code Click “Search” Select how you would like to be contacted Choose your language from the dropdown menu Enter your contact information IN MOST STATES, ASSISTANCE WITH ENROLLMENT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES CAN BE FOUND THROUGH LOCAL ASSISTANCE A . However, some states maintain their own Marketplaces and language assistance services can be provided through a state Marketplace website, by phone, or in-person. Language Access for State Marketplaces CALIFORNIA Visit Storefront Finder for Local Assistance Translated Website: 繁中 | Chinese Traditional: https://www.coveredca.com/chinese/ 中文| Chinese Simplified: https://www.coveredca.com/chinese-simplified/ Hmoob | Hmong: https://www.coveredca.com/hmong/ ខ្មែរ | Khmer: https://www.coveredca.com/khmer/ 한국어 | Korean: https://www.coveredca.com/korean/ ລາວ | Lao : https://www.coveredca.com/lao/ Tagalog: https://www.coveredca.com/tagalog/ Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese: https://www.coveredca.com/vietnamese/ Phone Language Access 粵語 | Cantonese (800) 339-8938 普通话 | Mandarin (800) 300-1533 Hmoob | Hmong (800) 771-2156 ខ្មែរ | Khmer (800) 906-8528 한국어 | Korean (800) 738-9116 Tagalog (800) 983-8816 ລາວ | Lao (800) 357-7976 Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese (800) 652-9528 COLORADO Visit Assistance Network Scheduler OR call (855) 752-6749; TTY: 1-855-695-5935 Other translated resources CONNECTICUT Visit Assistance Search OR call 1-855-805-4325; TTY: 1-855-789-2428 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Visit Get Help OR call (855) 532-5465; TTY: 711 Translated Website 中文 | Chinese: https://dchealthlink.com/chinese 한국어 | Korean: https://dchealthlink.com/korean Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese: https://dchealthlink.com/vietnamese GEORGIA Call (888) 687-1503; TTY: 711 IDAHO Visit Search for in-person assistance OR call 1-855-944-3246 To see the website in 中文| Chinese Simplified – click the drop-down list at the bottom of the page KENTUCKY Call 1-855-459-6328 MAINE Call (866) 636-0355 and select option “4” MARYLAND Call 1-855-642-8572 To see the website in a different language, use the dropdown menu at the top right corner of the website and select your language MASSACHUSETTS Call 1-877-623-6765; TTY: 711 To view the website in a different language use the dropdown menu at the top right of the website and select your language MINNESOTA Visit Assister Directory OR Call (651) 539-2099 or (855) 366-7873 Translated Website: Hmoob | Hmong: https://www.mnsure.org/hmong/index.jsp Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese: https://www.mnsure.org/vietnamese/index.jsp NEVADA Visit In-Person Assistance OR call 1-800-547-2927; TTY: 711 To view the website in a different language, use the Select Language dropdown at the top right of the website to select your language The Asian Community Development Council also provides in-language assistance for enrolling into healthcare: https://acdcnv.org/health-insurance/ NEW JERSEY Visit In-Person Assistance OR call 1-833-677-1010; TTY: 711 To view the website in a different language, go to the top right corner of the website and use the “Translate” drop down to select your language NEW MEXICO Visit Schedule An Appointment OR call 1-833-862-3935 To view the website in 中文| Chinese Simplified, go to the top right corner of the website and click the flag icon and select 中文| Chinese Simplified NEW YORK Visit Find an Assistor or Broker OR call 1-855-355-5777; TTY: 1-800- 662-1220 Translated Website: 繁中 | Chinese Traditional: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/TraditionalChinese 中文| Chinese Simplified: https://info.nystateofhealth.ny.gov/simplifiedchinese Translated Materials বাংলা | Bengali မြန်မာ | Burmese 中文 | Chinese (Simplified) 繁中 | Chinese (Traditional) हिंदी | Hindi 日本語 | Japanese ကညီ | Karen 한국어 | Korean नेपाली | Nepali Tagalog اردو | Urdu Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese PENNSYLVANIA Visit Search for in-person assistance Pennie OR Call 1-844- 844-8040, TTY: 771 To view the the website in a different language, go to the bottom right corner of the website and select your language from the dropdown menu RHODE ISLAND Visit Navigator Search OR call 1-855-840-4774; TTY: 1-888‐657-3173 To view the website in a different language, go to the top right corner of the website and select your language from the dropdown menu VERMONT Call 1-855-899-9600; TTY: 711 To view the website in a different language, go to the top right corner of the website and select your language from the dropdown menu VIRGINIA Call 1-888-687-1501 WASHINGTON Visit Navigator Search OR call 1-855-923-4633; TTY: 1-855-627-9604 You can also request free translated materials when you apply for health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder . The Washington Healthplanfinder also has translated resources for use: Language Recognition Card: 语言识别卡 भाषा पहचान कार्ड 言語識別カード ប័ណ្ណកំណត់អត្តសញ្ញាណភាសា 언어 식별 카드 د ژبې د پېژندنې کارت ਭਾਸ਼ਾ-ਪਛਾਣ ਕਾਰਡ Card ng Pagkakakilanlan sa Wika Thẻ Nhận Dạng Ngôn Ngữ Cost Sharing Reductions One-Pager (English) 费用分摊减除单页文件 कोस्ट-शेयरिंग कटौतियाँ एक ही पेज Cost-Sharing Reductions(コストシェアリング・リダクション)概要 ការកាត់បន្ថយការចែករំលែកថ្លៃ 비용분담 감면 원 페이저 ວັນເພເຈີກ່ຽວກັບການຫຼຸດຜ່ອນການຮ່ວມຈ່າຍ د روغتیا پاملرنې لګښتونو کمولو تخفیف یو مخ لرونکې سند ਲਾਗਤ-ਸਾਂਝੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੀਆਂ ਕਟੌਤੀਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਵਨ-ਪੇਜਰ Isang Pahina ng Pagbabawas ng Pagbabahagian ng Gastos Tax Credits One-Pager (English) 税项减免单页文件 टैक्स क्रेडिट एक ही पेज 税額控除概要 ឯកសារមួយទំព័រឥណទានពន្ធ 세액공제 원 페이저 ວັນເພເຈີກ່ຽວກັບເງິນຫຼຸດຢ່ອນພາສີ د کلیدي شرایطو لپاره د کارونکي لارښودنې ਟੈਕਸ ਕ੍ਰੈਡਿਟ ਵਨ-ਪੇਜਰ Isang Pahina ng mga Kredito sa Buwis Tài Liệu Về Tín Thuế Expanding Access to Health Insurance to All - FAQ (English) 扩大健康保险的普惠范围 Mở Rộng Khả Năng Tiếp Cận Bảo Hiểm Y Tế Cho Tất Cả Mọi Người Health Insurance Open to Everyone Trifold (English) 面向所有人的健康保险 स्वास्थ्य बीमा हर किसी के लिए ປະກັນສຸຂະພາບເປີດກວ້າງຕໍ່ກັບທຸກຄົນ د روغتیا بیمه د هرچا لپاره خلاصه ده ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਲਈ ਸਿਹਤ ਬੀਮਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਹੈ Insurance sa Kalusugan na Bukas sa Lahat Bảo Hiểm Y Tế Mở Rộng Cho Mọi Người Guide to Health Insurance for Immigrants in Washington State (English) 华盛顿州 移民医疗保险指南 वॉशिंगटन राज्य में प्रवासियों के लिए स्वास्थ्य बीमा मार्गदर्शिका ワシントン州における移民のための健康保険ガイド សេចក្តីណែនាំអំពីការធានារ៉ាប់រងសុខភាពសម្រាប់ជនអន្តោប្រវេសន៍នៅក្នុងរដ្ឋវ៉ាស៊ីនតោន 워싱턴주 이민자를 위한 건강보험 가이드 ຄູ່ມືການປະກັນສຸຂະພາບສຳລັບຜູ້ອົບພະຍົບໃນລັດວໍຊິງຕັນ په واشنګټن ایالت کې د کډوالو لپاره د روغتیا بیمې په اړه لارښودنې ਵਾੱਸ਼ਿੰਗਟਨ ਸਟੇਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਸਿਹਤ ਬੀਮੇ ਲਈ ਗਾਈਡ Gabay sa Insurance Pangkalusugan para sa mga Imigrante sa Estado ng Washington Hướng Dẫn về Bảo Hiểm Y Tế dành cho Người Nhập Cư ở Tiểu Bang Washington Resources for those transitioning between Medicaid and the Marketplace Overview of transitioning out of Medicaid and CHIP and into the Marketplace (English) 中文 | Chinese हिंदी | Hindi 한국어 | Korean Tagalog Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese If you need assistance with transitioning out of Medicaid, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has implemented the Enrollment Assistance Program. Call (877) 864-4370 or you can select your state on the website and schedule an appointment for a consultation Resources for those providing assistance to enrollees If you plan on providing assistance to enrollees with their Marketplace plans, please visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for more information on becoming a Navigator or certified application counselor. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES HIV Education & Outreach Tuberculosis Elimination Outreach Capacity Building Initiatives COVID-19 & Influenza
- OUR WORK | APIAHF
MAKE A DONATION Frequently asked questions are answered below. Thank you! Frequency One time One time Monthly Monthly Amount $25 $25 $100 $100 $250 $250 $500 $500 Other Other 0/100 Please add any comments or dedications. DONATE $25 Our Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities need your help to eliminate health disparities and advance health equity. For more than three decades, APIAHF has influenced policy, mobilized communities, and strengthened programs and organizations to improve the health of AANHPIs. We connect community members with decision makers to develop solutions towards better health outcomes for all AANPHIs in the U.S. and U.S. Territories. Our network has assisted over a million people in nearly every state in 56 languages to gain healthcare. Still, there is more to achieve. And to ensure health equity for our communities, APIAHF needs your support and partnership. Thank you for championing better health outcomes for our communities! • Can I send a check instead of an online donation? Please make checks payable to "APIAHF" you can mail them to: APIAHF 461 Bush St Suite #400 San Francisco, CA 94108 • Can I send a wire transfer or stock certificate as a donation? Please call us at 415-568-3301 for more information on wire transfers and stock certificate processing. • Is this donation tax deductible? Yes. We are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your email donation receipt as your official record. We'll send it to you upon successful completion of your donation. • What if I still have a question? Please call us at 415-568-3301 and we'll be happy to answer any other questions you have. FOSTER A HEALTHIER FUTURE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS DONATE —
- APIAHF APPLAUDS BICAMERAL CONGRESSIONAL INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2024
JULY 25, 2024 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF APPLAUDS BICAMERAL CONGRESSIONAL INTRODUCTION OF THE HEALTH EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 2024 JULY 25, 2024 WASHINGTON —Today, Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2024 (HEAA). The bill focuses on eliminating racial and ethnic disparities and has been introduced by the Congressional Tri-Caucus, composed of CAPAC, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. This is the first time HEAA has had a bicameral introduction, and over 150 members of Congress have co-sponsored the bill over the past two decades. HEAA is a comprehensive and strategic legislative blueprint and one of the few bills that contains community input from over 300 organizations, including national health justice and civil rights organizations. APIAHF president & CEO, Juliet K. Choi issued the following statement: “As our nation's demographics change, so do our health needs. Underserved and underrepresented communities face substantial barriers to obtaining quality health care and equitable health outcomes. APIAHF is proud to lead the 118th Congress's reintroduction of HEAA, with AAPCHO, to tackle these health disparities head on. HEAA invests in culturally and linguistically appropriate health care and health services, creates a pipeline for an inclusive workforce, and deploys innovative strategies to reach communities regardless of region, immigration status, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability. Achieving health equity requires a multi-faceted approach, and HEAA provides a blueprint to do exactly that.” The full text of the bill is available here . A one-pager is available here . Learn more about HEAA here . # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES
- OUR WORK | APIAHF
As a health justice non-profit organization, APIAHF is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of more than 20 million AAs and NHPIs living in the United States and its jurisdictions. We believe that all persons have the right to be healthy, the right to live in a thriving community, and the right to quality, affordable, and accessible health care. As a health justice non-profit organization, APIAHF is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of more than 28.6 million AAs and NHPIs living in the United States and its jurisdictions. We believe that all persons have the right to be healthy, the right to live in a thriving community, and the right to quality, affordable, and accessible health care. Learn more about OUR POLICY WORK PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Influencing and Shaping Policies that Impact AA and NHPI Communities APIAHF works with partners from local communities to influence local, state and federal-level public policy. Our presence and partnerships in Washington, DC allow us to shape federal policies that impact AA and NHPI communities across the nation by expanding access, improving quality and advancing health equity. Mobilizing Communities Across the Nation for Change APIAHF engages community leaders across the country, including community public health organizations and social justice advocates, on national and state issues to address health challenges in their backyard, rally against harmful policies, organize around healthy practices, and call on policymakers to improve the health of our communities. Strengthening Programs and Organizations APIAHF strengthens local and regional community organizations by providing them with the tools, skills, training, technical assistance, and organizational capacity building needed to empower them to be stronger advocates in their communities.
- APIAHF APPLAUDS OMB REVISIONS TO DIRECTIVE 15 FOR ACCURATE, INCLUSIVE FEDERAL DATA STANDARDS
MARCH 28, 2024 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF APPLAUDS OMB REVISIONS TO DIRECTIVE 15 FOR ACCURATE, INCLUSIVE FEDERAL DATA STANDARDS MARCH 28, 2024 WASHINGTON —Today, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released revisions to Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. The revised standards modernize the collection of race and ethnicity data and improve how federal agencies analyze and publish that data. Directive 15 was last updated in 1997 to create separate “Asian” and “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and expand “Hispanic” to include “Hispanic or Latino.” APIAHF President & CEO Juliet K. Choi released the following statement: “APIAHF is proud to have advocated for revised standards, including submitting comments with over 40 national, state, and local partners through the regulatory process, that would reflect the communities that span our great nation. The updated Directive 15 is the culmination of work across all communities and between federal agencies toward data equity in the U.S. “In particular, we applaud including the new Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) category. We know first-hand the importance of communities being seen and represented, and this new designation will mean critical resources, including in-language, can be delivered to MENA communities. We also applaud OMB’s commitment to revising these standards and establishing a regular review ahead of each decennial census. “We look to OMB’s continued commitment to build upon this great work by requiring all federal departments and agencies to collect, analyze, use, report, and disseminate disaggregated data on communities as the minimum standards. Accurate, inclusive data is core to the work that we can achieve and has a meaningful impact on how resources are allocated. We look forward to continuing collaboration with OMB as they work to implement these new revisions.” # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES
- APIAHF CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMARK LAW TO LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS
AUGUST 16, 2024 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF CELEBRATES ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LANDMARK LAW TO LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS AUGUST 16, 2024 WASHINGTON —One year ago today, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The groundbreaking law strengthened Affordable Care Act protections, lowered health care costs, extended Marketplace affordability, and improved access to affordable prescription drugs for millions of Americans on Medicare. Juliet K. Choi, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), released the following statement: “APIAHF celebrates the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act. The law has resulted in real, life-saving results for Americans, including extended premium tax credits for Marketplace plans through 2025 for nearly one million Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific, making comprehensive health insurance more affordable and available. “As we emerge from the public health emergency, many Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific elders are more at risk than ever. The Inflation Reduction Act has helped our community access affordable and essential health coverage and prescriptions under Medicare. From a $35 monthly capped insulin cost to recommended adult vaccinations at no cost, the law resulted in real savings for elders.” # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES
- APIAHF APPLAUDS THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. KAMANA'OPONO M. CRABBE TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF APPLAUDS THE APPOINTMENT OF DR. KAMANA'OPONO M. CRABBE TO THE PRESIDENT'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICANS, NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 WASHINGTON —APIAHF Counselor Dr. Kamana‘opono M. Crabbe was sworn in as a Commissioner on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. The Commission, co-chaired by HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai, advises the President on ways the public, private and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. “We are thrilled that President Biden has appointed Dr. Kamana‘opono M. Crabbe to serve on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander,” said Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “A life-long advocate for health equity for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities and a revered elder, Dr. Crabbe will bring a wealth of expertise and insight to the Commission.” Dr. Crabbe is a seasoned spokesperson and representative for the Native Hawaiian community on Native Hawaiian rights, social inequities, community health and resilience, and cultural, educational, economic, and political issues affecting Native Hawaiians, Hawai‘i and the Pacific. For over 30 years, he has focused his personal, academic, and professional career toward improving Native Hawaiian health and well-being. He has received several formal awards recognizing his executive leadership and accomplishments, such as the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education Leadership Award, The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement’s Native Hawaiian Advocate Award, and the Hawai‘i Psychological Association’s Patrick H. DeLeon, Ph.D. Lifetime Achievement Award. He is a board member for several organizations including aio Foundation, `Aha Kane Foundation for the Advancement of Native Hawaiian Males, and Ekolu Mea Nui nonprofit. APIAHF congratulates all the new Commissioners who were sworn in including the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Executive Director Krystal Ka’ai; APIAHF’s Community Partner ACDC founder and president Vida Lin; and Sameera Fazili. The official White House announcement can be found here . # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES
- SUPREME COURT CONTINUES TO ERODE RIGHTS AND THE HEALTH OF ALL AMERICANS
JUNE 30, 2023 PRESS RELEASE SUPREME COURT CONTINUES TO ERODE RIGHTS AND THE HEALTH OF ALL AMERICANS JUNE 30, 2023 WASHINGTON —Today marks the final day of the 2022-23 U.S. Supreme Court term. Our nation ends the term with dire impacts due to the politicization of our Court, which continues to roll back longstanding laws impacting our health and civil rights. Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, issued the following statement: “Over the last two years, the Court has undermined our liberties, including affirmative action, the right to an abortion and ensuring the LGBTQ+ community is treated with dignity and respect. The Court’s decision today in 303 Creative, Inc. v. Elenis, under the guise of free speech, denies same-sex couples equal access to public businesses based solely on sexual orientation. This argument continues to harm the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community, including an estimated 325,000 AANHPI individuals, by opening the door for discrimination and asserting a second-class citizen status of a protected class. ”What is clear is that courts matter. Voters have the power to elect leaders – including the President and Senators – who directly shape our courts. We must continue to hold our elected leaders accountable, and this can only be done by ensuring that we all civically engage in the electoral process.” In addition to the Court’s decision in 303 Creative, Inc. v. Elenis, APIAHF raised concerns on two recent decisions. Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard – decided June 29, 2023 “The Court has long held that affirmative action is vital to advancing diversity and ensuring our graduates are prepared for our multiracial workforce and society. This decision has implications not only for undergraduate admissions but also for graduate-level admissions, including medical and nursing school, said Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “Our communities’ health does best when medical professionals are more likely to understand our experiences. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders continue to be grossly underrepresented in the medical profession, and health equity is further compromised by this decision – particularly in the shadow of the impact of COVID-19 on NHPI communities, which had one of the highest per capita death rates in our nation.” Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – decided June 24, 2022 “We have already seen the chilling effect of the Dobbs decision on vulnerable communities. The erosion of reproductive rights disproportionately affects AANHPI women, immigrant women, women of color, and other underserved populations who already face significant barriers to accessing comprehensive and affordable health care,” said Juliet K. Choi, President & CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “Abortion care is an integral part of health care and reproductive justice must be protected for all individuals, irrespective of their background, circumstances or the states that they reside in. As we observe this sorrowful day, APIAHF recommits to protecting and restoring reproductive rights, ensuring that every person has the autonomy to make decisions about their own bodies and lives. We call upon our leaders, at all levels of government, to take a stand and safeguard the rights and well-being of all individuals, upholding the principles of justice, equity, and personal autonomy.” # # # BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES
- NHIEN LE
MANAGER, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NHIEN LE MANAGER, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUR BOARD OUR LEADERSHIP OUR STAFF ABOUT OUR STAFF — Nhien Le is a Community Engagement Manager at APIAHF. A graduate of Missouri State University, Nhien has over eight years of experience working with communities. A former recruiter at City Year in Dallas, Nhien focused on building partnerships with key stakeholders to implement up to 80 full-year AmeriCorps members to serve communities in Dallas. As chair of the Asian American Pacific Islander affinity group at City Year, he was a frequent speaker on AA NH/PI issues, including serving as a panelist focused on the Mental Health and the AAPI Community as part of the Nonprofit Success Institute Speaker Series, organized by the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Earlier in his career, Nhien served as a Library Associate where he managed educational and cultural programming for the City of Dallas public libraries. Next Item Previous Item BACK TO ALL STAFF
- EPHRAIM COLBERT
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION MANAGER EPHRAIM COLBERT DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCTION MANAGER OUR BOARD OUR LEADERSHIP OUR STAFF ABOUT OUR STAFF — Ephraim is the digital media production manager for APIAHF’s Capacity for Health project. In his role, he leads the development for Ending of the HIV Epidemic video, podcast, and social media series. Ephraim uses communications and productions skills to share and amplify the voices of the voiceless. Before APIAHF Ephraim was a freelance producer working in video, radio, and podcast in the Bay Area. Ephraim has been Technical Director of live event for KPFA Radio 94.1fm and produced YouTube shows. “My community has rightfully had a history of mistrust of the healthcare system. I’d like to contribute to the rebuilding of that trust and improve the health concerns facing the African American community.” -Ephraim Next Item Previous Item BACK TO ALL STAFF
- LEADING AANHPI HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS STATEMENT ON HHS REORGANIZATION
APRIL 7, 2025 PRESS RELEASE LEADING AANHPI HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS STATEMENT ON HHS REORGANIZATION APRIL 7, 2025 WASHINGTON —The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL), and National Council of Asian Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP) raised concerns about the reorganization of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its potential consequences for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. “The reorganization of HHS must be undertaken with a firm commitment to addressing the health challenges and disparities that AANHPI communities continue to face,” said Juliet K. Choi, president & CEO of APIAHF. “We are concerned that the changes to HHS’s structure could inadvertently dilute resources that are essential to ensuring culturally and linguistically competent care for our communities. We urge HHS to ensure that the reorganization does not weaken efforts to tackle evidence-based persistent health disparities and access to services in local communities, and to progress our shared goal of helping all Americans.” AANHPI populations have long faced systemic barriers to healthcare access, including a lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate services, and significant disparities in chronic disease prevalence, the utilization of mental health services, and tobacco cessation. We are particularly alarmed by the dismantling of HHS regional offices, many of which work directly with AANHPI communities. These offices serve as critical points of engagement, providing essential services, outreach, and resources that support positive health outcomes in historically underserved communities. Their elimination could further isolate AANHPI populations from necessary healthcare services and mask the immediate needs from communities that are struggling. “We urge HHS to provide transparency and meaningful engagement with community stakeholders as it moves forward with this reorganization,” added Rod Lew, Executive Director of APPEA L. “The voices of AANHPI communities must be at the table to ensure their health needs are not overlooked. We remain committed to working with federal partners to ensure the health of our communities remains a central focus of all policy and organizational decisions.” “Our physicians are providing care to AANHPI patients in many settings, including community clinics, academic centers, small practices and public health settings,” remarked Winston Wong, MD, chair & CEO of NCAPIP . “These dramatic reductions to the HHS workforce directly impact the quality and availability of services to AANHPI patients and communities that rely on our physicians to meet their special cultural and linguistic needs.” # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. # # # Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leadership (APPEAL) is a national organization working towards social justice and a tobacco-free Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) community. # # # NCAPIP was established 15 years ago to support physicians to meet the needs of their AANHPI communities. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES
- APIAHF WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
JANUARY 16, 2025 PRESS RELEASE APIAHF WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER JANUARY 16, 2025 WASHINGTON —The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Albert Shen to its Board of Directors. “We are honored to welcome Albert Shen to our Board,” said Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO of APIAHF. “Albert’s distinguished career spanning civic engagement, public service, and the private sector brings a wealth of expertise and a multifaceted perspective that aligns with our vision and mission to advance health equity for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.” “Albert’s deep commitment to our community and his diverse professional experiences will be invaluable as we work to improve the health and well-being of AANHPI communities across the nation,” said Neal Shah, Board Chair of APIAHF. “We look forward to leveraging his leadership and insights to strengthen our initiatives.” Albert Shen currently serves as a Senior Federal Client Partner at Verizon, where he leads digital transformation strategies for federal government and public sector clients. Prior to Verizon, Shen held senior advisory positions at Toyota North America, focusing on sustainability and innovation. During the Obama Administration, he served as Deputy National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, where he championed initiatives to empower minority-owned businesses. A recognized leader in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, Shen has served on several nonprofit boards, including as Board Chair of the Asian American Action Fund (AAAFund) PAC. His dedication to public service and community advocacy continues to make a meaningful impact nationwide. # # # Achieving health equity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through law, policy and practice. BACK TO PRESS RELEASES Next Item Previous Item BACK TO PRESS RELEASES




