Unpacking the Affordable Care Act

AND ITS IMPACT IN GEORGIA

ELISE BLASINGAME, GEORGIA WATCH &LAURA COLBERT, GEORGIANS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE

Who We Are:

Georgia Watch

State-wide consumer advocacy organization.

Programmatic focus areas in healthcare access, consumer energy, financial protection and civil justice.

Operated a navigator program as part of the Seedco Consortium in OE1 and OE2.

Provided specific expertise on complex tax filing issues related to ACA and advanced issues with Marketplace appeals.

Georgians for a Healthy Future

State-wide consumer health advocacy organization

Vision: A day when every Georgian has access to the quality, affordable health care that they need to live healthy lives and contribute to the health of their communities

Provide enrollment and post-enrollment assistance, as well as policy recommendations and advocacy related to a variety of health policy issues

Marketplace Basics:

Georgia has a Federally-Facilitated Marketplace

Income between 100-400% of the FPL were eligible to receive an Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC)

Income between 100-250% FPL qualified for cost-sharing reductions (less costly; higher value plans)

Providers Offering Marketplace Plans in Georgia During OE1/OE2

Getting Georgia Covered

Organizations Providing Enrollment Assistance During OE1/OE2

65+ Certified Application Counselor Organizations

48 Navigator Organizations Federal Grantees

HRSA Grantees

Organizations with chronic disease management focus

Enrollment in Georgia

ENROLLMENT OE1 ENROLLMENT OE2

316,543 541,080

During Open Enrollment 2 (2014-2015)

Nearly 9 in 10 Georgians qualified for an advanced premium tax credit

45% re-enrolled from the previous year

Organizations with chronic disease management focus

55% were new enrollees to the Marketplace

Effectuated enrollment for OE2: 83.7% (452,815)

Enrollment in Georgia: By County

(OE2)

Enrollment in Georgia: Cost

The average premium paid for an individual plan after tax credits were applied was $73/month

Using Healthcare.gov Plans

Challenges to Enrollment

Initial issues with healthcare.gov during OE1

Limited health insurance literacy among consumers

Immigrants faced language and verification issues

Confusion and political opposition to ACA hindered partnerships

Consumers who fall into the coverage gap cannot access affordable care

Challenges Post-Enrollment

Income and citizenship verification issues with the Marketplace

Healthcare providers denying ‘Obamacare’ plans.

Tax-filing issues related to consumers who received an excess tax credit.

Miscommunication between health insurance providers and the Marketplace.

Successes Using a variety of local venues to conduct outreach and organize

enrollment events

Leveraging the support of existing partnerships for outreach

Developing trust with consumers

Strategic media through local outlets

VITA Tax Preparer & Seedco Navigator Debrief Grady Navigator assists recently terminated Fulton County Employees

So When is Open Enrollment?

Nov. 1, 2015 Jan. 31, 2016

Nov. 15, 2014 Feb. 15, 2015

Oct 1., 2013 March 31, 2014

OE1

OE2

OE3

March 15 – April 30, 2015

TAX PENALTY SEP

April 17, 2014

Open Enrollment 3 (OE3)

New navigator organizations

Focus on hard-to-reach populations Georgia: one of the top 10 markets for eligible but uninsured

consumers

Atlanta: Top market for eligible, but uninsured African-Americans

Georgia-specific outreach & education materials

Questions?

Elise Blasingame

Director of Community Education & Financial Protection

Georgia Watch

404-525-1085

eblasingame@georgiawatch.org

Laura Colbert

Community Outreach Manager

Georgians for a Healthy Future

404-567-5016, ext. 2

Lcolbert@healthyfuturega.org