Uninsured Individuals Enrolling in Health Coverage
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    Open Enrollment, Round 2

    Research Oct-17-2014 | 1-min read
    1. Insights
    2. Our Research
    3. Open Enrollment, Round 2
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    Vote & Vax, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and SPARC, works with local public health providers to offer convenient flu vaccinations at polling places on election day across the country. Southend Senior Wellness Center in Hartford, Connecticut. Anthem provided free vaccinations to the uninsured.

Hartford is a diverse community made up of primarily of African Americans, ethnic Caucasians and Asian Americans, it also has large Bosnian and Brazilian immigrant communities. Thirty percent of the population lives below the poverty line, Hartford's rate of poverty is second in the United States only to Brownsville, Texas according to the last US Census Bureau's brief. The election department has informed them that a 2,500 person senior center does all its voting at this polling site, and this senior center has not done any vaccine clinics this season.

Laurie St John described as a "whirling dervish" by her co-workers tried unsuccessfully to start a Vote & Vax for the last few elections. She faced many challenges. It wasn't until a conversation with Tung Nyguen, DPH epidemiologist, which lead to a partnership between the Hartford VNA and Hartford DPH. This year is the 1st Hartford Vote & Vax a joint effort between VNA and DPH.

They have 1500 vaccines on site. They are doing shifts so nurses can vote. There will be bilingual translators on site. Vote & Vax greeters will be interacting with voters on line and in parking lot to help voters know that vaccines are available. Surveys will be conducted with vaccine recipients as they exit clinic as a part of the Vote & Vax results data requirement. Voting and Vote & Vax clinic will take place in separate areas on the 1st floor of the building, accessible through separate exterior entrances. There have been ads in the papers.  Anthem is providing free vaccinations to the uninsured.

    On the eve of the second open enrollment period (November 15, 2014,) the uninsured are varied in their views about enrolling.

     

    The Issue

    To help states and stakeholders develop effective strategies and messages to drive enrollment during the upcoming open enrollment period, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation sponsored national message research studies, conducted by PerryUndem and GMMB, with individuals newly enrolled in health insurance, as well as those who remain uninsured.

     

    Key Findings


     

    The survey found the following:

    • Of those who newly enrolled in qualified health plans, almost all plan to keep their insurance; are satisfied with their coverage; have used their coverage; and report that plans are affordable.

       

    • Most will check out their options for coverage in the next open enrollment period, but lack information about key dates and renewal processes.

       

    • Cost remains the main barrier to enrollment for uninsured.

       

    • One-quarter to one-third report being very likely to look for health insurance through the marketplace and another 15 percent are more likely to do so after hearing key messages.

       

    • Those surveyed report they are struggling financially; are in debt; and have little left over for other expenses in their monthly budgets.

       

     

    Conclusion:

    Many uninsured still do not know about available health insurance options or that there is financial help to lower premium costs and in-person assistance to help them complete the enrollment process. 

    About the Study:

    This summary report presents the findings from both surveys (newely insured and uninsured) and provides ideas for messaging and outreach to these populations during the upcoming open enrollment period. Full reports on both surveys are also available.

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    Checking in on Enrollment

    The purpose of this study was to understand consumers’ perceptions of barriers to enrolling in coverage before the end of the current open enrollment period (March 31, 2014).

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    Understanding the Uninsured Now

    Most uninsured individuals value health insurance and many have been actively trying to get it on their own since the ACA was enacted. However, they feel it is out of reach financially right now.

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    Healthcare Coverage and Access
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