AFFORDABLE CARE ACT

RESOURCES FOR LIBRARIES

OVERVIEW OF ACA 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 31 st, 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 tax penalty, which is why getting assistance if necessary is so important.

WHAT CAN LIBRARIES DO RIGHT NOW TO PREPARE?

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

Additional ideas…

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.

NAVIGATORS IN NEBRASKA

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

HEALTH CENTERS

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

INSURANCE COMPANIES

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.)

PATRON ASSISTANCE

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.

WEBSITES

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.

Examples of Public Health Care Marketplace 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

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 pmLincoln Medical Education Partnership4600 Valley Rd, #225 ( Classroom 1) Thursday, September 19, 2013 6:30 pmCenter for People in Need3901 North 27th, Conference CenterEnter through Door #3 on south side of building. Monday, September 23, 2013 6:30 pmSaint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center555 South 70thLower Level, Rose/Franciscan Room

CONTACT

Mary Sauers

Government & Information Services LibrarianNebraska Library CommissionThe Atrium Suite 1201200 N StreetLincoln, NE 68508-2023

(402) 471-4017

mary.sauers@nebraska.gov