Exchange Outreach and Education
In order to make informed insurance purchases in the Exchange, consumers and employers need to be educated about their rights and responsibilities.
*Milestone details:
*Full name: Develop a strategy for educating consumers and employers about their rights and responsibilities regarding the Exchange.
*Relevance to the ACA:
The ACA establishes a number of rights and responsibilities for both consumers and employers that relate to the Exchange. Applicable sections include:
§1002 - Creates grants for offices of health insurance consumer assistance or health insurance ombudsman. These grant funded offices must educate consumers about their rights and responsibilities regarding group health plans and health insurance coverage.
§1311 - Requires the Exchange to consult with educated health care consumers, small business representatives, state Medicaid offices and advocates for hard to reach populations relevant to carrying out the required activities of the Exchange.
§1312 - Establishes consumers’ right to choose an insurance plan in or outside of the Exchange.
§1501 - Requires individuals to maintain minimum essential coverage or face a tax penalty, unless they qualify for a financial or religious exemption.
§1511 - Establishes employer responsibilities, including automatic enrollment for employers with over 200 employees; notification to employees of their coverage options and eligibility status for tax credit and voucher programs; and penalty payments for certain large employers that do not offer health insurance.
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District of Columbia
A great question about navigators was posted by member Patrick Stern in the exchange policy decisions discussion. He has questions about federal exchange navigators, which you can read here.
District of Columbia
NASHP's State Network team recently released a brief on consumer assistance that includes great state and national resources on education and marketing for exchanges, including survey data, website ideas and communication plans. We hope it's helpful!
http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/state-network-nashp-desi...
Mississippi
I work for a large commercial insurance broker. We have been communicating all aspects of PPACA with our clients from the first day Obamacare was uttered. My question is two-fold: #1. How are our clients supposed to notifytheir employees about the state exchange? Is there a template? And #2. We have several clients who have multiple state locations. If there is a template, is there a different template for state's that will manage their "state" exchanges and one for the states that will have "federal" exchanges?
District of Columbia
Hi Theresa- Other than the legal requirement in the ACA for employers to notify employees on or after March 1, 2013, we have not seen further guidance. According to this FAQ from DOL: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-aca5.html#.UORva4njkzw the Employee Benefits Security Administration will be working on guidance on this issue. DOL has released a number of templates here: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/healthreform/#.UORvQInjkzw so if they do provide one, it would likely be posted there.
District of Columbia
The Maryland Health Connection issued an RFP on November 15, 2012, for communications and marketing services for the exchange, including: marketing and communications strategy, media buying, public relations, online marketing, social media, and corporate and community outreach programs. Responses are due by December 12.
District of Columbia
Last week, the Hawaii Connector released an RFP for Market Research, Communication
Strategy, and Public Relations. The Connector wants to develop materials to help raise awareness statewide, create a plan of action for community outreach and develop a public awareness campaign sensitive to the multi-cultural population. Responses are due October 1, 2012.
California
The California Health Benefit Exchange, Department of Health Care Services (Medicaid dept), and Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (CHIP dept) released revised recommendations for outreach and marketing and the Assisters Program. They can be found attached.
As always, check the Exchange's website www.hbex.ca.gov and look at the Board Meetings page for Board materials (this includes nearly all Exchange materials), the Stakeholders page (for stakeholder engagement), and the Solicitations page (for all solicitation-related materials).
Rhode Island
Hi everyone-
Just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Megan Hall and I recently worked as the health care reporter for Rhode Island Public Radio.
Now I'm working with Faulkner Consulting Group to help with outreach and education for Rhode Island's Exchange. I hope we can all be resources for each other as this process moves forward. Right now I'm drawing up a communications plan for the Exchange. Any advice on good resources?
Thanks!
District of Columbia
Hi Megan-
Welcome to the State Refor(u)m community! I've compiled some materials that I hope will be helpful to you in your new position.
California recently released a draft of their marketing, outreach/education and assistors workplan: http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/marketing_outreach_and_e...
Karen from MN shared a document with best outreach practices learned through the SHAP program: http://www.statereforum.org/shinecomments/view_document_link/9937?ref=ht...
I've also attached a recent update on the MD Exchange's Communication workplan.
Do other users have resources they've found particularly helpful? Please chime in!
Rhode Island
Hi Rachel-
Thanks so much for the resources! I've been looking through the CA plan already, and I have an older version of MD's communications plan but not this updated one. The MN document will be great too!
I've made contact with communication/outreach folks in Oregon, Minnesota, and Maryland. Other than Massachusetts (reached out but haven't gotten a response yet) anyone else I should talk to?
Other folks out there that want to chat/compare plans?
best,
Megan
California
CA's Health Benefits Exchange posted two reports outlining options for the marketing, outreach, education, and assistors program (including navigator program) in CA. The Exchange requested comments from groups around the state and stakeholders. The reports reflect some of the options other states are considering in terms of the Navigator program (i.e. MD). Both reports give quite a bit of background and information on each of the options being considered by the EXCH board. Just wanted to share in case it's helpful. Both reports can be found at: http://www.healthexchange.ca.gov/StakeHolders/Pages/Default.aspx
California
The Arkansas Department of Insurance released an RFP seeking a qualified vendor to support the Arkansas Insurance Department’s efforts in creating Navigator Program in compliance with the ACA. Although the state decided in December 2011 that it will not be developing it’s own state-based exchange, the Arkansas Department of Insurance announced that they would leverage CMS’s Federally-facilitated Exchange (FFE) efforts with state-operated core Exchange functions of Consumer Assistance and Plan Management to implement a FFE Partnership Model.
District of Columbia
The Kansas Insurance Department's Health Insurance Exchange Workgroup Steering Committee released a consumer outreach and education plan. The report makes recommendations on the following issues:
1. What should be some of the operating requirements of the consumer hotline?
2. What is the best way to educate the public and make them aware of the Exchange to
maximize participation?
3. What will the role of navigators be within the Exchange?
Ohio
UHCAN Ohio organized a series of 3 public forums in May and June at Cleveland State University involving key stakeholders, including state officials, on the impact of national health reform on Ohio and how it is affecting consumers, small business and providers. The PPT presented by the Assistant Director for Health Policy of the Ohio Department of Insurance, Carrie Haughawout, who is coordinating the development of the Ohio Exchange, is uploaded. The first forum (May 18) focused on the Exchange development, the second (June 2)on the economic impact, especially workforce issues, and the third (June 20) on delivery system reforms. View the fliers listing the speakers, sponsors and topics addressed here: www.urban.csuohio.edu/forum.
Massachusetts
The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation just released the second in our Health Reform Toolkit Series: Implementing a Successful Public Education and Marketing Campaign to Promote State Health Insurance Exchanges.
You can see it here:
http://bluecrossfoundation.org/~/media/Files/Health%20Reform/Lessons_for...
Please contact me for more information!
Lindsey Tucker
BCBSMA Foundation
lindsey.tucker@bcbsma.com
West Virginia
This document serves as the basis of a contract that the WV Offices of the Insurance Commissioner has signed with a marketing firm for an education and outreach strategic plan; focus groups; brand development; and development of a new exchange planning website. The contract was signed as a piggyback off of an existing contract the vendor has with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
District of Columbia
This report provides lessons learned from MA that are relevant to national health reform implementation, including: Exchange issues, stakeholder engagement and educating consumers. Access the report here:
http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/lessons_for_national_ref...
District of Columbia
The purpose of this transition plan contained herein is to provide the incoming Executive Administration with key recommendations and information to assist in the successful implementation of national health care reform in New Mexico.
Access the plan here:
http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/ohcr_transition_plan_122...
District of Columbia
Senate Bill 38 was introduced in the NM legislature in 2011. It would establish the structure, governance, and duties of the Exchange.
Access the legislation here:
http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/nm_sb0038.pdf
District of Columbia
This document is Texas' response to the HHS request for comments on insurance exchanges. Access the comments here: http://www.statereforum.org/sites/default/files/texas.pdf
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