(PNS reporting from WASHINGTON, D.C.) Latinos who voted to reelect Barack Obama are set to receive one of the benefits he promised: Insurance against mal ojo (“ojo” insurance for short) starts on January 15.
Ojo, more commonly referred to as the “evil eye,” is treated by touching something that one is envious of or by having an abuelita rub an egg over the target of the envidia while saying a prayer.
“Access to health care is not an ‘entitlement,'” Obama told the crowd at an Olvera Street appearance in downtown Los Angles at a 2008 campaign rally. “It is a fundamental right. And as president I promise that every American, not just Latinos, will have the right to protect themselves against ojo.”
“This is a huge step for all Latinos, but Americans, too!” area mom Margie Porras told PNS. The mother of two adorable girls, Porras said the niñas are constantly the target of ojo.
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“I can’t seem to keep these girls ojo-free, since they are so cute. It’s a terrible problem. With this new ojo insurance, I’ll be able to take care of my girls and not have to worry about dressing them up all cute when we go to the store. My old insurance carrier said their cuteness was ‘pre-existing condition’ and refused coverage,” she said.
Ojo coverage represents a huge leap forward for public medicine, according Dr. Ángel Benavidez, who runs a clinic in McAllen, TX. Benavidez said his patients often suffer from ojo, but were unable to afford treatment without insurance.
Now that the Obamacare option for ojo insurance is active, Benavidez said the quality of life for his patients is set to improve dramatically.
“I cannot stress to you what a big deal it is to my patients to have ojo covered,” he told PNS.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus has released a statement noting that they fought hard for their constituents’ rights to ojo coverage, and that medical menudo and prescription pozole coverage did not slip through the cracks, either.
According to the CHC, ojo insurance is bigger than just one affliction:
At issue is not just whether we can walk around safely without someone putting ojo on us, but whether we — as Americans — can walk around our country feeling as though we are a part of this nation’s fabric.
Alexandria, VA homemaker Fabiola Reyna was happy with the announcement, but also had some criticisms. “I wish Obama would have thought about providing coverage for curing mijoities or mamitis, too,” said Reyna, whose two older brothers aren’t expected to cook or clean at home.
Eres Nerd, Peter & Mary contributed to this report.
Evil eye pendant image courtesy The Evil eye Store.