With 15M More Americans Soon Eligible, FHCE Expands Its Medicaid Eligibility Tool to Include Use by Top U.S. Health Organizations

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To gear up for the increase in Americans seeking answers about eligibility for expanded Medicaid as an outcome of health care reform, the Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE) is now taking steps to expand usage of its 2-minute Eligibility Quiz through collaborative efforts with top health organizations across the country.

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The FHCE has implemented its online health insurance assessment tool at several non-profit call centers belonging to United Way's 2-1-1 program and key associations that assist uninsured cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease patients. After intensive online trainings on how to use the system, the Eligibility Quiz gives the operators of these call centers the ability to directly counsel more than 7 million uninsured Americans about their public and private health coverage options.

"When the Affordable Care Act adds 15 million more Americans to Medicaid, the nation's top health organizations will receive many more requests from uninsured Americans wondering if they are eligible for it, as well as other new private insurance options," said Phil Lebherz, Executive Director of FHCE. "Simplifying the eligibility process and helping these organizations communicate patient eligibility is critical if the government is asking America's health care organizations and providers to do more."

Since 2008, these call centers have been referring uninsured callers to FHCE's general CoverageForAll.org website. "This new step allows the call center counselors to be more than a referral service. They can now directly provide insurance eligibility information to the caller on the line. It's a win-win strategy that empowers the operators to more directly help patients and families get answers on how they will pay for treatment," said Lebherz.

"A diagnosis of cancer or heart disease is the most devastating information a person can receive," noted Lebherz. "When this happens, people need to focus on their health and families, not face the additional stress of uncertainty over health coverage. Our collaboration with these organizations will help millions more patients and their families discover their health coverage options and enable them to move forward with getting the care needed."

The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has assisted over 4.5 million Americans with understanding their health coverage eligibility status through its CoverageForAll.org website and Eligibility Quiz. Its mission is to simplify public and private health insurance eligibility information in order to help more people access coverage. Friend FHCE/CoverageForAll.org on Facebook or follow the organization on Twitter for health coverage updates, tips on staying healthy, and the latest FHCE news and features.

SOURCE Foundation for Health Coverage Education