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Health Reform in Maryland: Helping libraries be ready for changes and questions

Suzanne Schlattman, MSW, MPHMaryland Health Care for All! CoalitionSummer 2013

Goal and Agenda

To educate librarians about the changes coming to Maryland’s health care system this fall under health reform Watch Kaiser Family Foundation Video Maryland-specific update Important Dates Resources Questions

Kaiser Family Foundation Video

http://kff.org/health-reform/video/youtoons-obamacare-

video/

Key Points: What the law is doing now

The law was signed in 2010 and is already having an impact: New consumer protections make insurance a better

value Young adults can stay on parents’ coverage up to

age 26 Tax credits for small businesses Increased funding to expand safety net services

Key Points: What the law will do in the future

Employer Most people won’t see changes in their insurance coverage, especially

if they already have coverage they like either through their employer or through Medicare.

Government Medicaid will expand to cover over 100,000 more Marylanders.

Self-pay People who can’t get insurance through their employer can shop with

the benefit of tax credits in Maryland’s new insurance marketplace or outside the marketplace. This will include about 150,000 Marylanders.

None People who can’t afford coverage, have religious reasons for not

getting coverage, or can’t get coverage because they are not legal citizens will still be able to access Emergency Room or other safety net services, and will not be penalized for not getting insurance.

Eligibility Determination

Many people in your community may be eligible for various new coverage programs

Maryland’s Exchange is called the Maryland Health Connection

Maryland Updates since ACA 101

Important Dates

If you’re eligible for anything, Connector Entity, Assisters and In-person application counselors can help enroll you starting this fall.

Enrollment into the Maryland Health Connection: October 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014

Enrollment into Medicaid: January 1, 2014

Resources

Kaiser Family Foundation: http://kff.org/health-reform/ Videos and Widgets for websites

Consumer Reports Publications: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2013/03/download-our-free-guides-to-health-care-reform-and-medicare/index.htm Seven Things You Need to Know About Health Reform (Eng/Span) Medicare: Six things you need to know now (Eng/Span)

Maryland Office of Health Reform: www.healthreform.maryland.gov Upcoming meetings/public comment periods

Maryland Health Benefit Exchange: http://www.marylandhbe.com Outreach toolkits, job announcements, etc.

US HHS website: www.healthcare.gov General health insurance literacy materials in multiple languages/formats

Resources

Maryland Health Connection: www.marylandhealthconnection.gov

Helpline 1-855-642-8572 currently available M-F 8-6PM Enrollment website launching late summer/early fall 2013 Connector Entities

Calvert Healthcare Solutions (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties)

Health Care Access Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore City and Baltimore County)

Healthy Howard (Allegany, Carroll, Frederic, Garrett, Howard, Washington Counties)

Montgomery County Department of Health (Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties)

SEEDCO (Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Harford, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties)

Worcester County Health Department (Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties)

Discussion

Thank you!

Suzanne Schlattman

suzanne@healthcareforall.com(410)235-9000

www.healthcareforall.com

2600 St. Paul Street

Baltimore, MD 21211