Executive Director's September 2025 Message

Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15th to October 15th. This year’s theme is “Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” The San Francisco Health Service System (SFHSS) would like to celebrate all of SFHSS' Hispanic and Latinx members, active and retired. Their public service has been and will continue to be critical in improving safety and equity in our community. At SFHSS we strive to ensure that they, as part of our diverse membership, are front and center in our efforts to improve the health of our members and their families.

All across the nation, Hispanic and Latinx residents bring cultural richness and economic stability to their local communities. As a Latino, I am proud to see more Latinx members serving as government officials, business owners, community leaders and activists, and improving the lives of those around them. Yet, despite our significant presence in the U.S. population, Latinos remain significantly underrepresented in professional occupations.

I feel immense gratitude for my parents serving as great examples of how hard work and dedication can lead to a brighter future for one’s family. In turn, I tried to inspire my own children. When my daughter, Alyssa, achieved her professional goal of becoming an attorney in 2022, I was not only happy for her, but I was also proud that her accomplishment was further proof of the strides the Latinx community was making. Hispanics represent 19.1% of the total U.S population, but only 6% of attorneys in the country are Hispanic.

I encourage you to learn about the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans and check out some of the great events across our City celebrating and honoring the Hispanic Heritage.

Looking forward, Fall is right around the corner and that means so is Open Enrollment (OE)! This year, OE will run from October 1st to October 24th, 2025. The entire SHFSS team has been working hard to ensure our members will have the opportunity to learn all about the health benefits available to them for the 2026 Plan Year. Please look for your OE notice in your U.S. mail or email towards the end of this month. Open Enrollment is, generally, the one time-of-year SFHSS members can modify their benefit elections.  Don’t let this opportunity pass by without reviewing your choices and making sure you have the best benefits for your family’s health needs.

In good health,

Rey Guillen