A new Department of Health and Human Services report indicates that a lower number of Latinos than expected are seeking medical coverage through Obamacare.

According to reports by CNN Money, out of all the people who reported their race after selecting plans on the federal exchange, only 10.7 percent were Latino. In contrast, 63 percent of new signups were white, 16.7 percent were black, and 7.9 percent were Asian.

The data is disheartening considering that minorities are far more likely to be uninsured than whites. Only 15 percent of whites remain uninsured, whereas nearly a quarter of blacks are uninsured. However, most alarming is that Latinos are the most likely minority group to be uninsured, with one-third lacking coverage.

"Enrollment among Latinos is lagging behind other groups when you look at the share they represent of the target market and the uninsured," said Kaiser Family Foundation vice president, Larry Levitt. "This will be one of the big challenges, particularly in border states, as attention turns to increasing sign ups next year."

The Obama administration took many steps in pushing for more Latino signups, including establishing a Spanish language website (CuidadoDeSalud.gov), providing Spanish speaking representatives at call centers, and funding application counselors in minority neighborhoods.

Many obstacles potentially explain the low Latino turnout. Lack of knowledge of healthcare options was a major one, with many counselors reporting having to schedule multiple meetings to explain Obamacare to enrollees. A Commonwealth study shows that only 49 percent of Latinos are aware of their state exchange, compared to 68 percent of whites and 69 percent of blacks.

Another issue was the ever-prevalent fear of deportation among families with undocumented family members. Many people feared signing up for Obamacare could attract immigration officials, despite the federal government's promise to keep information gathered from exchanges private.

Some are simply skeptical that the new coverage will be worth the expense, a concern that advocates and enrollment counselors are working to alleviate. They also encourage other enrollees to share their own positive experiences with signing up for Obamacare.

Although many also qualified for the Medicaid expansion, 14.5 percent were eligible to pick plans from the federal exchange this year. However, 24 percent of Latinos live in states not covered under the expansion.