ORANGE PARK – Florida is the third Spanish-speaking state in the country with 21.8% of all households speaking the language as their primary shared ‘tongue’ between all members of the household, according to the American Community Survey, which is conducted in 2020 by the U.S. Census.

In Clay County, 2020 census data found that those living within county borders include residents that are 10.2% Hispanic, 2.71% Asian, and 9.61% White (Hispanic), other (Hispanic) or Multiracial (Hispanic).

Not all of those residents speak Spanish or another non-English language as their primary form of verbal communication. However, it is still crucial for thousands of residents to have a helping hand with a familiar native tongue when looking to obtain essential services, especially when it comes to health insurance.

That’s why Compass Health Insurance at 950 Blanding Blvd. in the Publix Plaza in Orange Park, is staffed with native-born and now American-nationalized residents hailing from Haiti, the Philippines and multiple Hispanic countries to assist new residents with services.

“They are native-born and naturalized citizens. The clients normally want to do business with agents that speak their language, especially the Haitians. It’s very important for (clients) to go to Compass because when they go in, they know there are going to be agents that will help them,” said Maria Mauricio-Ortiz, branch manager of the agency’s Orange Park location.

Compass Health Insurance is open to all customers of nationalities and races, but their unique ability to reach out to non-native groups in the county is what especially sets them apart from the rest.

“Compass Health is really very supportive of our ethnic groups,” Mauricio-Ortiz said.

Their office hours are 10 a.m to 5 p.m., but with health insurance being a top priority for new U.S. residents in unfamiliar territory with language barriers and other obstacles that must be met, Compass Health provides the necessary help for clients around the clock.

“The Haitian group (of agents) is there on Saturdays because Haitians work (during all of the other days of the week). So the agents who are Haitian are usually there on Saturdays to cater towards their clients,” she said.

But that’s not all.

“We just want people to know that no matter what, we are always there to help them, especially when it’s enrollment time, and if it’s over, we can still help them. Anytime that you come to the office and it’s closed, we have our phone numbers at the door and you can call us 24/7. We can definitely answer your calls and assist with your needs. We can set up an appointment. If it’s not the same day, we can do it the following day,” Mauricio-Ortiz said.

The Orange Park location is part of a larger 16-chain conglomerate operating throughout the Sunshine State. Compass offers a myriad of product services, including health insurance, life insurance, medicare, dental and supplemental and prescription coverage.

Compass Health Insurance can be reached via telephone at (904) 579-3928 or by email at info@compasshealthinsurance.com.

Clay County residents can also connect with Compass Health Insurance on social media on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CompassHealthInsurance or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/compasshealthinsurance/ (@CompassHealthInsurance).