The economic downtown shaped the conversation at our Boston HAN meeting on November 13, as it had in Amherst the week before. Outreach workers reported a big increase in new applicants; they’re also hoping that an incoming Obama administration might make it easier for some of them to get into the system.
Recently, I contacted a client who had been on and off of Commonwealth Care for a while due to administrative reasons. I was doing a routine follow-up call when he told me that he had just paid $180 for his monthly premium. That didn’t make sense, since I knew he was under 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and had been paying $70 a month previously. He said he couldn’t afford it and was considering cancelling his coverage.
The situation was all too familiar: A young woman and her father met with one of our Community Outreach Workers and asked how to sign up for health insurance. A quick check in My Account Page (MAP) found that her MassHealth Essential had ended mid-month because she had started a new part-time job. MAP also showed she was already Commonwealth Care eligible. The Outreach Worker explained how to enroll in Commonwealth Care and all of the benefits it would provide starting next month.
"Well, the problem is that she’s a heroin addict," the father said. "Her rehab clinic checks her insurance every day and won’t help her out until she gets her insurance back."
The economic downturn shaped a lot of our discussion – how it affects clients, state services, and our own organizations. For example, more clients find themselves in tears during appointments – some with problems like home foreclosure that outreach workers just can’t help fix. Many HAN organizations are taking on additional responsibilities with fewer staff. CP has also cut back staffing; we are now closed on Wednesdays.
Awards may be renewed for up to three years and will cover post-enrollment activities.
At both HAN meetings, Brian Rosman from Health Care For All (HCFA) led a discussion about the next steps in Health Care Reform. Before he spoke, outreach workers exchanged stories about how some of new policies in Health Care Reform are working out in practice.
Commonwealth Care plans a switch to same-month billing, starting in December.
Please call your legislators today and tell them how important outreach and enrollment work is to the success of health care reform. Line item 4000-0352 - which funds outreach and enrollment, and Community Partners - is in jeopardy.
Exceptions Forms have been revised to address denials and terminations separately and will come pre-populated with member and employer information.
MassHealth responds to questions and notes compiled by advocates during site visits to MECs.
