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|By PR Newswire
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|February 27, 2014 10:30 AM EST
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the Cover Missouri Coalition, a Missouri Foundation for Health project, announced an intensive March education effort to ensure Missourians get factual information about their health coverage options and help enrolling before the March 31 deadline for obtaining Marketplace health plans.
To date, more than 54,000 Missourians have selected Missouri Marketplace health plans, but thousands more have yet to purchase insurance. More than 390 members have joined the Cover Missouri Coalition and are working to drive awareness and dispel myths that may deter some from signing up for coverage — particularly those worried about high insurance costs.
Affording monthly health insurance costs is a frequent concern voiced by Missourians to Cover Missouri members. However, most people using the Marketplace can get financial help that makes their coverage affordable for their budgets. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 83% of Missourians who have signed up for Marketplace plans have received financial assistance. Despite this high number, a recent Enroll America Survey indicated that nationally, more than two-thirds of uninsured Americans are not aware of potential savings and thus, have not visited an online Marketplace.*
Misconceptions like this only further underscore continued information gaps that Cover Missouri members are working hard to address this March through free education and enrollment events, and extended offices hours for Certified Application Counselors (CACs) and Navigators. Activities planned for March include:
- More than 45 events hosted by Coalition members. To find a session in your area, visit www.covermissouri.org/tools/events/events.php.
- A live online chat with Missouri Marketplace experts on Wednesday, March 5, 6 p.m. CT on the group's Facebook page.
- Hundreds of Navigators, CACs, agents, and brokers are available throughout the state to help Missourians in a one-on-one setting. To find a Navigator near you, visit www.covermissouri.org/find/find.php.
"The activities of Cover Missouri Coalition members and partners give uninsured Missourians an important opportunity to get accurate information about Marketplace health plans before the enrollment period ends," said Ryan Barker, Vice President of Health Policy at Missouri Foundation for Health. "We encourage everyone statewide to take full advantage of the free assistance and information sessions in their communities — and to take an active role in finding health insurance that meets their families' health care needs, while not breaking their pocketbook."
Those interested in learning more about education and enrollment opportunities in their area can visit www.covermissouri.org to learn more.
Cover Missouri is a project of the Missouri Foundation for Health to promote quality, affordable health coverage for every Missourian. The Cover Missouri Coalition aims to reduce the rate of uninsured Missourians to less than five percent in the next five years. Members work to build awareness, facilitate enrollment, increase health insurance literacy, and support Medicaid transformation. Coalition members will also share learning and best practices, maximize resources, identify challenges and opportunities, and build an inclusive plan to insure Missourians. For more information, please visit www.covermissouri.org.
The Missouri Foundation for Health is an independent philanthropic foundation dedicated to improving the health of people in our region. The Foundation works as a changemaker, educator, and partner to promote community health and increase access to care for the uninsured and underserved.
For more information about Missouri Foundation for Health, please visit www.mffh.org.
*Source: Kaiser Health News
SOURCE Missouri Foundation for Health