News and Updates on the ACA

Several recently released studies indicate that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) helped reduce the number of uninsured Americans by between 8 and 11 million in the first year of the Marketplaces. Other key points from one report¹: Many of the previously uninsured have used their new coverage to obtain needed care The uninsured rate for people ages 19-64 declined from 20% in the period July – September 2013 to 15% in the period April – June 2014 Young men and women (ages 19-34) made up a significant portion of the decline In states which expanded Medicaid coverage, the uninsured rate for people in poverty declined at an even higher rate (28% to 17%) A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey of Navigators and Assister programs nationwide found that an estimated 10.6 million people received personal help from Navigators and Assisters during the Open Enrollment Period (Oct. 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014). In total, more than 4,400 Assister Program provided assistance for enrollment. Most Assister programs reported that people looking for health insurance sought help because they did not understand the ACA or health insurance and lacked confidence to apply on their own. In addition, the survey showed that 90% of Assister Programs have already been re-ontacted by consumers with post-enrollment questions and problems.² The next Open Enrollment Period for insurance coverage will begin on November 15, 2014. If your organization is a community health center or other health c...
Source: Network News - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Consumer Health General (all entries) Outreach Source Type: news