Lower Shore Health Insurance Assistance Program Katherine Gunby Program Coordinator NPHIC February 27, 2014

Consumer Assistance Programs throughout the state – role

Services of Consumer Assistance Programs Certified Navigators: Expertise in eligibility, enrollment. Facilitate selection of health plans. Assisters: Outreach and education activities. Consumer assistance with application.

Lower Shore Health Insurance Assistance Program About the new program 17 new positions Hired centrally, deployed locally Virtual Contact Center Collaborative Approach & Steering Committee: Health Departments Dept. of Social Services AGH, PRMC, McCready TLC Libraries Other community-based organizations Staff are located at LHDs, DSSs, TLC – Princess Anne, Pocomoke, Salisbury, PRMC, Crisfield Clinic, local libraries and many more events/pharmacies each week. We are primarily scheduling in person appointments with navigators or assisters who work closest to the individual. We are finding that many people have not come in contact with services before, these are working people who may have not been aware of our services or felt stigmatized by asking for help and we’re now better able to connect them to other community resources and other agencies for needs they may have.

More than 23,000 uninsured in Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. That’s 4,433 in Somerset 12,764 in Wicomico And 5,946 in Worcester But who are the uninsured? Contractors, farmers, watermen, service sector employees, small businesses… they are working families. 40% of these folks make 138% or less of FPL 46% make between 138-400% of FPL So 86% of uninsured in our area qualify for assistance to pay for quality health insurance.

Lower Shore Health Insurance Assistance Program 23,143 Uninsured -52% White -6% Hispanic -34%Black -8% Other -87% Under 65 -46% QHP -41% Mediccare Eligible (?)

Lower Shore Health Insurance Assistance Program Serving residents of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties. LOCAL call center: 855-445-5540 Website: http://lowershorehealth.org Apply online: http://marylandhealthconnection.gov Our call center is virtual, meaning that we the 855 number rolls directly to our navigators and assisters cell phones in the field. This has allowed us to be even more accessible to people in our rural region. Fielded more than 1,244 calls since Oct. 1– inbound and outbound to clients. We have held 76 outreach events.

Approach Mobile services Paid advertising Digital marketing Traditional outreach and public information

Mobile Services 15 certified staff at more than 30 locations. Mobile equipment. Virtual contact center to reach certified staff in field. Enrollment assistance in the community. Potential reach can be maximized. Since staff are mobile, they can reach many more people than they could if they were stationary.

Paid Advertising -Discuss other paid advertising

Digital Marketing: Social Media

Traditional Outreach Methods Activities Audience Office education Hold regular office hours Uninsured Mobile information sessions Health fairs, community gathering places, community group events, etc. Rural, isolated people, etc. Libraries Access to enrollment system on computers and hands on demonstrations Distribution of marketing materials Pamphlets, brochures, flyers, etc. Uninsured, small business owners, employees -Also mention MedChi efforts -While we’re increasing our visibility with our boots on the ground outreach efforts, we also are tapping into the media to let people know that we are here to help.

Outreach Events

Where Will We Go From Here? Continued community outreach Community gathering events Library events Office education Social media Distribution of marketing materials Story banking Advertising Local TV Commercial Hyperlink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltDOatAYT0k#t=4

Questions Katherine Gunby Worcester County Health Department Program Coordinator Katherine.Gunby@maryland.gov 410-632-9230