DHS Works With Communities To Educate Public On Health Care Exchanges

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State health officials are trying to partner with local communities in an effort to help people transition to the new health care exchanges.

On October 1, people and businesses can start signing up to receive coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, the state exchange mandated under the Affordable Care Act. The legislature recently changed the state’s Medicaid eligibility requirements, so more people will have to purchase insurance.

To make sure everyone in the state receives coverage, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is teaming up with local communities to help educate the public on the changes. The agency has established 11 regional enrollment networks. Each of the regions will have meetings through next week to coordinate efforts.

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Jamie Chistianson-Fawcett is an administrator with DHS’s western regional office. She says the state cannot handle all the health care changes alone. “If we all come together and work as community members, we believe that we’re going to be able to help our friends and neighbors learn about and get the coverage that will be available to them in 2014.”

Christianson-Fawcett says efforts could range from putting up informational flyers to becoming a certified health insurance application counselor.

So far, she says more than 1,000 people have signed up to attend the meetings.

The state did receive federal money to hire official health insurance navigators, but officials say it’s not nearly enough to assist all the people in the state.