- Few Consumers Understand New Law or How to Benefit -
Young Adult Focused Website GetCoveredCA.org is Part of Multi-Million Dollar Statewide Effort to Educate Californians on How to Benefit Under the Law
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Monday, September 20, The California Endowment, health care experts and affected consumers launched a youth focused education effort to explain the upcoming changes to Californians’ health benefits as a result of the federal Affordable Care Act. The education effort includes the launch of a new young adult focused website, GetCoveredCA.org.
On September 23, significant provisions of the law will go into effect:
- Young people will be able to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans up to age 26
- Insurance companies can no longer drop people from coverage when they become sick and need it most
- No discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions
“The provisions going into effect on September 23 can have a profound impact on the health of California families,” said Dr. Gerald Kominski, Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. “No discrimination against children with pre-existing illnesses such as asthma or childhood diabetes. Insurance companies prohibited from dropping coverage because someone gets sick. Preventative services such as annual check-ups and mammograms covered under new insurance plans. Young adults covered up to age 26. But in order for people to take advantage of these benefits, they need to be educated about them.”
GetCoveredCA.org is a dynamic space where users can learn about their benefits under the new health care law, ask questions, and upload their own video and photos to share their personal health care stories.
On the media teleconference to announce the launch of the website, Aaron Keshishian – a student at California State University, Northridge – talked about how provisions of provisions of the health care law going into effect September 23 will impact him: “Last June, I was informed that - although I was a full-time student – my parent's health insurance company was dropping my coverage because of my age. I looked into plans recommended by my college, but they were very expensive. Facing the choice between health insurance and my education, I chose education. But on September 23, I will no longer have to face this decision because I will be covered on my parents’ plans until age 26.”
This education initiative - one of the largest of its kind thus far in America - is the first phase of a larger multi-year effort to educate every Californian about their access to health care under the new law. This phase includes a statewide effort educating Latinos, young adults under the age of 26 and business communities through a multi-million dollar paid advertising effort, online outreach, and events throughout the state. Estimates say that, when fully implemented, the Affordable Care Act will bring in more than $120 billion new federal dollars over the next ten years to be invested in the health and well-being of Californians and their communities.
Dr. Robert K. Ross, President and CEO of The California Endowment, said, “Our research shows very few Californians know about the change in laws or the new health care options and benefits available to them and their children. Now that the law has passed, it is in the interest of every Californian to become educated about their benefits. The launch of GetCoveredCA.org is an important part of our education effort, educating Californians under-26 about the important provisions that will take effect this month.”
To view The California Endowment’s new site focused on young adults, visit GetCoveredCA.org. To learn more about the health care law, visit calendow.org/healthreform.
CONTACT:
The California Endowment
Jeff Okey, 213-928-8622
[email protected]
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Education Other Education Health Public Policy/Government Healthcare Reform Public Policy Social Media Professional Services Insurance Teens Legal Communications Consumer Family General Health
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