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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Public libraries critical to health coverage during public health crisis
</b><a href="http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2020/11/public-libraries-critical-health-coverage-during-public-health-crisis">http://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2020/11/public-libraries-critical-health-coverage-during-public-health-crisis</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Libraries Connecting You to Coverage: Affordable Care Act
</b><a href="http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/connectingyoutocoverage">http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/connectingyoutocoverage</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949;background:#FEFEFE">“The eighth open enrollment period of the </span><a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:#FEFEFE;text-decoration:none">Affordable
Care Act (ACA)</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949;background:#FEFEFE"> began on Sunday, November 1, 2020 and will run through December 15, 2020 during what may be the most challenging year in its ten-year history.
Millions of Americans have lost jobs due to the Coronavirus pandemic, leaving many without employer-sponsored health coverage. In its third consecutive year, the Public Library Association (PLA) initiative, </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/connectingyoutocoverage"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in;background:#FEFEFE;text-decoration:none">Libraries
Connecting You to Coverage</span></a><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949;background:#FEFEFE">, offers a suite of free tools and resources to help library practitioners assist patrons in enrolling in health insurance coverage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949">Public libraries, as critical community anchors, are well positioned to share information about insurance options, including the Affordable Care
Act, and to support patron’s efforts to enroll successfully. At the federal level, funding for outreach and advertising has been reduced each year since 2016, shifting the burden of education and assistance to state and local levels. In 2020, public libraries
may expect to see an increase in patrons seeking health insurance assistance due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The public library’s role in connecting people to computers and the internet is also critical, given that increasingly, outreach and enrollment is
taking place virtually due to closures and social distancing. All public libraries, especially those in states that utilize the <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Healthcare.gov</span></a> Marketplace, are
encouraged to take advantage of free resources to reach uninsured community members, improve health outcomes, and reduce medical costs in their communities. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: border-box;margin:1rem 0rem;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949">Library staff should determine the <a href="https://www.kff.org/health-reform/state-indicator/state-health-insurance-marketplace-types/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">type
of health insurance marketplace</span></a> used in their state (state-based or federally-facilitated via <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Healthcare.gov</span></a>). For states using
the Healthcare.gov Marketplace:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in;box-sizing: border-box;margin:1rem 0rem;padding:4.8rem;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: border-box">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Open enrollment begins November 1 and ends December 15. Patrons who are uninsured or who need to renew their plans can do so at <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">HealthCare.Gov</span></a> starting
November 1.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: border-box">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Coverage is more affordable than people think. In addition to steady premiums, most enrollees will qualify for tax credits to lower their monthly costs. Last year, about 8 in 10 enrollees qualified
for financial help, and 2 in 3 shoppers could find a plan for $10 a month or less.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: border-box">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">All ACA plans must cover key benefits like mental health care, maternity care, and prescription drugs.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#333333;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: border-box">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The ACA protects people from discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. The ACA's provisions that protect from pre-existing condition discrimination are still in effect.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p style="background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline;box-sizing: border-box;margin:1rem 0rem;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;font-variant-numeric: inherit;font-variant-east-asian: inherit;font-stretch: inherit;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949">PLA helps libraries create healthy communities and is pleased to have the support of <a href="https://www.communitycatalyst.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Community
Catalyst</span></a> and the <a href="https://www.rwjf.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Robert Wood Johnson Foundation</span></a> to promote insurance enrollment. Through PLA’s <a href="http://www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/connectingyoutocoverage"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Libraries
Connecting You to Coverage</span></a> web site, libraries can access free resources. These include ready-made communication assets for social media, radio and other outlets; materials that can be printed and hung or distributed focusing on getting started
with enrollment, special enrollment periods, and more; and instructions on adding the <a href="https://health.gov/our-work/health-literacy/consumer-health-content/free-web-content" target="_blank" title="Free Web Content (opens in new window/tab)"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">MyHealthfinder
content</span></a> to your library’s website. PLA also encourages libraries to promote health information courses on <a href="https://www.digitallearn.org/"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Digitallearn.org</span></a>, including <a href="https://www.digitallearn.org/courses/using-healthcare-gov-to-enroll-in-health-insurance" target="_blank" title="Using Healthcare.gov to Enroll in Health Insurance (opens in new window/tab)"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Using
Healthcare.gov to Enroll in Health Insurance</span></a> and <a href="https://www.digitallearn.org/courses/using-myhealthfinder-for-preventive-care" target="_blank" title="Using MyHealthfinder for Preventive Care (opens in new window/tab)"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">Using
MyHealthfinder for Preventive Care</span></a>, and offers recorded webinars for library staff on open enrollment, health literacy, reaching the uninsured and more.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background:#FEFEFE;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#494949">Questions about the initiative and resources may be directed to Leighann Wood, PLA Program Manager at <a href="mailto:lwood@ala.org"><span style="color:#337AB7;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in">lwood@ala.org</span></a>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Shannon White<br>
Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo, Lansing, MI 48909<br>
<a href="mailto:Whites29@michigan.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">Whites29@michigan.gov</span></a> 517-335-1507 |
<a href="http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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