Health Care Insurance Open Enrollment, the next phase of the Affordable Care Act, is fast approaching: October 1st! In this segment about the Affordable Care Act, Mary Sauers, Government Information Services Librarian at the Nebraska Library Commission, will provide updates to new ACA information websites, organizations, and materials to help you, your library, and your patrons continue to prepare for this event.
NCompass Live - Sept. 4, 2013.
http://nlc.nebraska.gov/ncompasslive/
2. Health Insurance Marketplace is a new way to find health coverage that fits everyone’s
budget and needs. With one application, patrons can see all of the health plan options and
enroll. They can compare plans based on price, benefits, quality, and other important
features before making a choice. They’ll also find out if they can get lower costs on their
monthly premiums for private insurance plans. They can find out if they qualify for lower
out-of-pocket costs. The Marketplace will also tell them if they qualify for low-cost, or
free, coverage available through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program
(CHIP).
Starting October 1st, 2013, the Health Insurance Marketplace, also known as the health
insurance "exchange" will begin Open Enrollment. Plans and prices will be available then.
Coverage starts as soon as January 1, 2014. Open Enrollment ends March 31st, 2014. To
receive coverage by January 1, enrollment must be completed by December 15.
The Marketplace website, HealthCare.gov will be the primary tool for delivering
information to patrons about their health coverage options. For Spanish speaking
consumers, CuidadoDeSalud.gov is also available, as well as 12 other languages.
Patrons will be able to apply online, by mail, phone, or in-person – just like taxes, online is
preferred. If patrons apply online--again, just like taxes--they will find out much sooner
about their acceptance.
Starting in 2014, if consumers do not have some type of health insurance, they might pay a
3. Attend webinars or view archived sessions. All librarians and front line
service associates should attend or view at least one. (Like this one!)
Add a widget or badge to your website directing patrons to the Health
Insurance Marketplace
If you have research databases/websites available through your library’s
website, add Healthcare.gov
Print out and provide Fact sheets to patrons
Get Ready to Enroll in the Marketplace
Things to Think about When Choosing a Health Plan
4. Partner with community organizations (like AARP, the local health department,
Community Action, etc.) to schedule and present Affordable Care Act and Health
Insurance Marketplace programs in the library or other community locations.
Print out patron handouts and post announcements about the programs by doors and
on the library website. Make the information easy to find on the website.
Create A “One-Stop-Shopping” display of announcements and handouts, including
contact information for local area navigator organizations and health center
counselors.
Post basic information sheets in the library’s public computer areas.
Consider having a librarian (or two) get training as an Application Assistor, or a
Certified Application Counselor.
Take brochures, fact sheets, and other materials to other events in the community,
including public service radio announcements and newpaper articles about public
forums.
Customize handouts with your library’s logo.
5. Navigator organizations:
Ponca Tribe of Nebraska
Niobrara (402) 857-3391
Community Action of Nebraska
Northeast Pender (402) 385-6300
Eastern Omaha (402) 453-5656
Southeast Humboldt (402) 862-2411
Lancaster/Saunders Lincoln (402) 471-4515
Blue Valley Fairbury (402) 729-2278
Central Loup City (308) 745-0780
Mid Nebraska Kearney (308) 865-5675
Northwest Chadron (308) 432-3393
Western Gering (308) 635-3089
6. Health Centers:
PANHANDLE COMMUNITY SERVICES – Gering
(308) 635-3089
EAST-CENTRAL DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Columbus
(402) 563-9224
NORFOLK COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE CLINIC, INC. – Norfolk
(402) 644-7314
PEOPLE'S HEALTH CENTER – Lincoln
(402) 476-1640
CHARLES DREW HEALTH CENTER, INC. – Omaha
(402) 457-1200
ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, INC. – Omaha
(402) 734-4110
7. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (largest
provider in Nebraska)
Coventry Health Care of Bethesda, Md. (already doing
business in Nebraska)
CoOportunity (cooperative health care provider in Iowa)
Health Alliance Midwest Inc. (a managed care company
from Urbana, Ill.)
8. First, remember that questions about health care are like taxes and legal
issues: we help patrons find the information without giving them advice.
Second, as leading providers of Internet access and computer literacy
training for people who lack Internet resources at home, libraries can
anticipate higher demand for computer services.
Patrons can get help with Enrollment in several ways:
Online chat – Healthcare.gov
Call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(TTY: 1-855-889-4325)
Navigators -- Unbiased individuals or organizations trained to help consumers,
small businesses, and their employees as they look for health coverage options
through the Marketplace, including completing eligibility and enrollment forms.
Their services are free to consumers.
Certified Application Counselors – very similar to Navigators, but through
community health centers or other health care providers.
Application Assistors – Can assist with enrollment, but not as extensively trained
Insurance agents and brokers can also help you with your application and choices.
9. Healthcare.gov – Insurance Market/Exchange
http://marketplace.cms.gov/ -- Under “Get Official
Resources”: further reading, printable fact sheets, logos and
widgets
Nebraska Department of Insurance ACA – Information for
consumers, health care providers, agents and navigators,
companies, and small businesses.
American Library Association -- includes an outline of ACA,
the role of libraries and a list of resources.
Webjunction – overview, webinars, what other libraries are
doing.
AARP – General Affordable Care Act information.
AARP Nebraska – State office contact information.
MedlinePlus – ACA, Health Insurance information.
10. The League of Women Voters of Lincoln-Lancaster County and AARP Nebraska
Will host a panel discussion about the Affordable Care Act. Panelists will discuss what the health care law means for
Nebraskans and how people can obtain health coverage. Speakers include Mark Intermill, advocacy director with
AARP Nebraska and Jerusha Hancock, health care access attorney with Nebraska Appleseed. A question-and-answer
session will follow the panel presentation.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013 7-9 PM
Unitarian Church, 6300 A St., Lincoln
Omaha Public Library
The Affordable Care Act: Small Businesses & the Self-Employed
Learn the details you need to make informed decisions about the Affordable Care Act. This presentation will be
geared towards small businesses and the self-employed with plenty of time to answer questions. Sign up by clicking
on the appropriate hyperlink below.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT: SMALL BUSINESSES & THE SELF-EMPLOYED
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Start Time: 6:30 PM
Library: Saddlebrook Branch
11. Community Forums on the Health Insurance Marketplace co-sponsored by the
Community Health Endowment and the Lancaster County Medical Society.
Pre-registration is not required.
Attend one of the free sessions listed below that will discuss: Health Insurance
Marketplace – What is it? What Insurance Plans are available? Subsidies – What are they
and do I qualify? Enrollment – How do I enroll?
Thursday, September 19, 2013 3:30 pm
Lincoln Medical Education Partnership
4600 Valley Rd, #225 ( Classroom 1)
Thursday, September 19, 2013 6:30 pm
Center for People in Need
3901 North 27th, Conference Center
Enter through Door #3 on south side of building.
Monday, September 23, 2013 6:30 pm
Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center
555 South 70th
Lower Level, Rose/Franciscan Room
12. Mary Sauers
Government & Information Services Librarian
Nebraska Library Commission
The Atrium Suite 120
1200 N Street
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023
(402) 471-4017
mary.sauers@nebraska.gov
Notes de l'éditeur
Example: Lincoln Medical Education Partnership. Gillespie said her members were very interested in partnering with the library to provide Navigators and informational sessions regarding the ACA.