Why Community Colleges Should Care About Obamacare. June 19, 2013

Transcription

1 Why Community Colleges Should Care About Obamacare June 19, 2013

2 Who We Are Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success at CLASP Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield Young Invincibles Christina Postolowski Amy Lin Enroll America Jessica Kendall 2

3 Webinar Overview I. Why should community colleges care? II. New health insurance options III. How students can apply IV. Outreach methods 3

4 I. Why Should Community Colleges Care?

5 Who Doesn t Have Insurance? 15.7% of U.S. residents lack insurance 26.9% of 18- to 34-year-olds in the U.S. lack insurance Community colleges enroll students more likely to be uninsured Lower income students Part-time students Minority students Older students 5

6 Consequences of Being Uninsured Lack of access to medical care High debt and bankruptcy from medical bills Unable to complete school 69% of students who didn t graduate said having health insurance would have helped them a lot 6

7 II. New Health Insurance Options

8 The ACA: Options for Students New options for coverage: Dependent coverage until age 26 Expanded eligibility for Medicaid Tax credits Improved student health plans Catastrophic plans 8

9 Extended Dependent Coverage Young adults under 26 can stay on their parent s plan Even if they: Don t live in the same state Are not financially dependent Are married Foster youth can stay on Medicaid until 26 9

10 Expanded Medicaid Eligibility Currently Eligible: Varies by state Often limited to children, pregnant women, very low income parents, and disabled citizens Newly Eligible: All adults w/ annual incomes at or below: ~$15K for an individual ~$31K for a family of 4 10

11 Expanded Medicaid Eligibility States decide whether or not to expand 11

12 The Marketplace (AKA Exchanges) Coming Oct. 1, 2013: new online health insurance marketplace Compare prices and benefits side-by-side Different levels of coverage Cannot be denied coverage or charged more if you have a pre-existing condition Tax credits and subsidies to help you afford coverage Caution: if you have an offer of employer coverage that meets certain standards, you will not be eligible for tax credits 12

13 Premium Tax Credits Tax credits can help you buy coverage If your annual salary is: ~$15K - $46K for an individual or ~$31K - $94K for a family of 4 Credits can be applied up front to lower the cost of your plan Amount of credit will change with income 13

14 Tax Credits: Example 1 Julie 28-year-old CC student Single w/ no children Makes ~$16,000/yr Premium for mid-level Silver plan on marketplace: $273/mo Amount of credit: $229/mo Premium after credit: $44/mo Premium for lower cost Bronze plan: $0 14

15 Tax Credits: Example 2 Tony 28-year-old CC student Married w/ 2 children Household income ~$32,000/yr Premium for Silver plan on marketplace family coverage: $866/mo Amount of credit: $776/mo Premium after credit: $90/mo Premium for Bronze plan: $0 15

16 How many young people could get benefits? Uninsured 18- to 34-year-olds in U.S. 2,354,000, 12% 9,025,000, 47% 7,799,000, 41% Could Qualify for Medicaid Under Expansion Could Qualify for Subsidies on Marketplace Over 400% FPL 16

17 Student Health Insurance Plans (SHIPs) 29% of 2-year public colleges offer SHIPs Previously limited regulations Now subject to standardized ACA requirements Ends pre-existing condition discrimination Must include preventive services

18 SHIPs vs. Marketplace If college offers SHIP, students can still buy plan on marketplace and apply for tax credits Caution: tax credits do not apply to SHIPs 18

19 Catastrophic Plans Available to those: Under 30 OR Unable to find a plan under 8% of income What it covers: 3 primary care visits a year Preventive services w/o co-pay or deductible Further services, but with high deductible 19

20 Catastrophic Plans Caution! Very high deductible Tax Credits DO NOT apply 20

21 Recap: The ACA Tailored for Students Young adults can stay on parent s plan until 26 Medicaid will reach new populations Tax credits make plans affordable Student plans are more comprehensive Catastrophic plans are an option 21

22 III. How Students Can Apply

23 Single, Streamlined Application Will allow consumers to apply for insurance through the marketplace, tax credits, and Medicaid 3 ways to apply Online portal, call center, or paper application All application materials in English and Spanish Application assistance in other languages through call center To get more info. on the marketplace in your state, go to healthcare.gov 23

24 In-Person Assistance Navigators, assisters, and Certified Application Counselors (CACs) Impartial information Outreach and enrollment May be community-based organizations, unions, trade or industry associations, etc. Community colleges can apply too! 24

25 Timeline Summer 2013: online portals and call centers open October 1, 2013: open enrollment begins Consumers can shop and apply for plan on the marketplace January 1, 2014: coverage begins Individuals who don t have coverage will pay a penalty 25

26 IV. Outreach Methods

27 How Should I Reach Out to Students? Get Covered America Campaign What do I say to students? How do I reach students? What s the outreach plan? 27

28 Get Covered America Campaign 1. Data-driven and Metrics-based 2. Grassroots-focused 3. Coalition-based 5. Building a Narrative of Success 28

29 How do we talk about health insurance to students?

30 There is an Awareness Gap 71% of uninsured year olds don t know of new options for insurance Research from Enroll America 83% of the Medicaid expansion population don t know of new options for insurance 30

31 Messages Can be Used to Motivate You can see what your premium, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs will be before you make a decision to enroll You can find all the information you need about available health insurance plans in one place 31

32 Messages Can be Used to Motivate Risk-Takers Getting covered will save you money Getting covered now will help ensure financial security later Individual Mandate will require you to purchase insurance 32

33 Use Language Cautiously Be Careful Here s Why Use This Instead Exchange People think Exchange is a place to trade or swap merchandise and don t immediately associate it with health care. Marketplace Messages that only mention your family Single and childless people have trouble identifying with messages exclusively about family Individuals Financial Assistance Available The concept needs more exploration. Many consumers think assistance is for someone else, not them. You may be eligible for a $0 premium plan or a new type of tax credit that lowers your monthly payment 33

34 How do we reach students?

35 Reaching Students: On Campus Relevant Departments and Service Areas Allied Health, College and Career Success Courses Admissions, Orientation, Financial Aid, College Health Center Active and Engaged Faculty and Staff Student Government and Student Groups National Groups with Campus Chapters Student PIRGs, NAACP, Planned Parenthood Service Organizations 35

36 Reaching Students: Off Campus Community and Faith-Based Organizations Community Health Centers Health Advocacy Groups Health Care for America Now HCANs Unions Enroll America Young Invincibles 36

37 Traditional Outreach Tabling Group Presentations Traditional Outreach Hosting Events Brochures and Newsletters 37

38 Mobile Technology Mobile Websites QR Codes Mobile Technology Text Message Services Mobile App 38

39 Use Social Media as an Outreach Tool One in five Americans have reported using social media for health information 50% of Facebook users are in the age group Young adults value reviews through social media when considering goods and services 39

40 How do we create an effective outreach plan?

41 Action Plan for Community Colleges 1. Develop a plan 2. Recognize everyone s role in outreach 3. Build upon your strengths 41

42 Open Enrollment Starts October 1 42

43 Additional Resources CLASP and YI s health care reform toolkit for community colleges: Understand-Health-Care-Reform-and-Enroll-in-Health-Insurance.pdf Enroll America s public education resources: YI s Healthy Young America website and smart phone app: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation s Medicaid eligibility and tax credit calculator: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services health care reform website and resources: 43

44 Acknowledgements This webinar is a project of Benefits Access for College Completion (BACC), a three-year initiative funded by the Ford Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, Lumina Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations, and managed by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The Annie E. Casey Foundation is also contributing to the initiative. BACC helps low-income students connect to coordinated income supports including health coverage, childcare subsidies and food assistance. 44