Affordable Care Act for NPs
The Information You Need to Help Your Patients Find Coverage
Letter From Dr. Mary Wakefield to AANP, January 26, 2015
Dear Members of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners:
As leaders in health care, you are among the most trusted sources of information about health care—not just to patients, but to the public as well. To that end, I am writing to ask that over the next few weeks you share important information with your patients, family members and others in your community about the opportunity to obtain affordable, quality health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace (HealthCare.gov) before the February 15, 2015, deadline.
For most people, access to health care services is predicated on access to health insurance. While over the past year we have seen a 26 percent drop in the number of uninsured in the nation—a remarkable achievement for each of those individuals and families—there are 32 million Americans without this security. Right now, however, they can obtain affordable coverage through HealthCare.gov.
I applaud the American Association of Nurse Practitioners for maintaining a webpage dedicated to Health Insurance Marketplace information and resources. You'll also find key information and links to materials relevant to nurse practitioners listed below, which I encourage you to share broadly. Additional resources for clinicians can be found at marketplace.cms.gov.
Research findings indicate a clear relationship between health insurance coverage and health outcomes. From now through February 15, 2015, please take this opportunity to help ensure that those in your clinical settings and throughout your communities know about the availability of health insurance and why it's so important to have it.
Additionally, to ensure patients have access to health care services, particularly in underserved areas, the Health Resources and Services Administration is also supporting two programs: the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, which is supported through funding made available in the Affordable Care Act, and the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program. These two programs are currently accepting applications from nurse practitioners interested in receiving help paying for the cost of education in exchange for practicing in underserved areas. I invite you to explore these opportunities.
Nurses have a critical role in strengthening the health of the nation. This is an opportunity for all of us, regardless of where we live or where we work, to help achieve that aim by helping others secure affordable, quality health insurance and access health care services. Thank you for your contribution to improving the health of individuals and families across the country.
Sincerely,
Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, FAAN
Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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How AANP Members Can Help
- Direct your patients to HealthCare.gov (Spanish: CuidadoDeSalud.gov) to sign up for coverage or to find local help. Individuals can also contact the call center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325), which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can accommodate 150 languages.
- Download the following materials, available in English and Spanish:
- Consumer brochures, including the Value of Health Insurance and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- Fact sheets, including Key Dates for the Health Insurance Marketplace and the Marketplace Application Checklist.
- Instructions, such as 5 Steps to Staying Covered Through the Marketplace for re-enrolling through the Marketplace.
- Postcards, posters, flyers and infographics for newly enrolled patients, re-enrolling patients and special populations.
- PSAs and Success Stories.
- Blog posts, drop-in articles, op-eds.
- Educate newly insured patients about primary and preventive care. Numerous resources are available to help families with new health insurance coverage understand their insurance benefits and connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for them. Materials are available through the Coverage to Care Initiative.
- Connect through social media:
- Like Healthcare.gov on Facebook at Facebook.com/HealthCare.gov (Spanish: Facebook.com/CuidadoDeSalud.gov)
- Follow Healthcare.gov on Twitter using the handle @HealthCareGov (Spanish: @CuidadoDeSalud)
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How NPs Can Help
- Reach out to people included in special groups, such as American Indians, Medicare beneficiaries and young adults with tools for Outreach & Education—Special Populations.
- Visit From Coverage to Care Consumer and Partner Resources for information on helping your patients make the most of their health care coverage and connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for them.
- Find guidance with Training for Navigators, Agents, Brokers and Other Assisters on the Health Care Marketplace.
- Read the CMS resource that outlines steps to accessing health care. The resource, From Coverage to Care: A Roadmap to Better Care and a Healthier You, is informational for people new to health care or health insurance. It covers many topics, from understanding health coverage to reasons for using an emergency room instead of primary care.
- Gain the information necessary to inform patients and community members about coverage options available in their state with HRSA’s one-stop-shop for providers. These tools will help consumers be well prepared to apply, choose a plan and enroll:
- A Quick Guide to the Health Insurance Marketplace: A one-page guide to the Marketplace, including Open Enrollment dates, application information and potential savings.
- Kaiser Family Foundation calculator: A simple tool that allows individuals to put in their household information and see (1) whether they may qualify for lower costs based on their income and household size and (2) what prices they might pay for a sample Silver and Bronze plan.
- Get Answers tool: A resource center with answers to top questions. Users can also browse by category, including costs, renewing or changing coverage, applying and enrolling or browsing all topics.
- Get Ready to Apply For or Renew Your Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage: A helpful brochure advising individuals on the information and materials they need to apply for health insurance.
- Educate your community by downloading or ordering consumer education materials, such as The Value of Health Insurance and About the Marketplace brochures, as well as:
- Marketplace application checklist
- Fact sheets
- Drop-in articles and op-eds
- Postcards and posters
- Infographics
- PSAs
- Talking points
- Questions and answers
- And much more!
- Host community meetings and nursing rounds in webinar, teleconference or in-person format to talk about the ACA. To help you with presentations, CMS offers PowerPoint slides, talking points and other educational materials.
- Share a video of the application and enrollment process with those individuals who are interested in seeing the application and enrollment process from start to finish. Images are also posted annually during Open Enrollment.