L.A. Care Health Plan Urges All to Fill Out the 2020 Census

The deadline to fill out the 2020 Census is fast approaching, and L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the country, is taking steps to ensure every one of its members, employees and those in the wider community are counted. L.A. Care has launched a social media campaign to get the word out, it has included census flyers in the resource bags at its food pantries, and all internal messaging has urged employees to fill out the census and to encourage family and friends to do the same by the October 31 deadline.

Why is the Census so important?

The U.S. Constitution mandates that a census be taken every 10 years to count all people – citizens and noncitizens – living in the country. Here are just some of the reasons that the census is critically important:

  • Congressional Representation – Census data determines how many representatives each state will have in Congress for the next 10 years. An undercount will mean underrepresentation for California in Washington, D.C.
  • Federal Funding – Census data determines how much funding states and local communities receive for roads, schools, housing and social programs, such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  • Emergency Response – Census data determines how much emergency response states and local communities receive in the wake of disasters. Living in a region known for earthquakes and wildfires requires adequate resources.

L.A. Care has tried to reassure all that the census is safe and completely confidential. Answers cannot be shared with local or federal agencies such as law enforcement or immigration.

Individuals can fill out the census online, by phone, or by mail. It only takes 10 minutes. It’s critical that everyone understand that a very short commitment of time can shape a brighter future for Los Angeles.