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4. Affordable Care Act Marketplace Status <br /> Colleen Bridger noted the flyer included in the abstract, which reviews information on the <br /> Affordable Care Act. <br /> She said her focus tonight is on how to work together as a community to get as many <br /> people as possible enrolled in the marketplace. She said the first part of this process is letting <br /> people know about it. <br /> She said there is a national organization called Enroll America that has deployed workers to <br /> states with the highest number of uninsured residents. She said North Carolina is one of those <br /> states. She said there are volunteers being mobilized to go door to door to answer general <br /> questions about the marketplace. She said Orange County is working closely with this <br /> organization. <br /> She said people reach a point of needing assistance enrolling in the marketplace. She said <br /> many of these people haven't had health insurance in several years, and there is a lack of <br /> knowledge of the terminology, as well as a lack of access to computers. <br /> She said people connected to the Health Department, Social Services, the Department on <br /> Aging, Planned Parenthood, Piedmont Health Services, or the hospital can go to one of those <br /> agencies to receive assistance from a certified counselor. <br /> Colleen Bridger said residents not already affiliated with any of these agencies can be <br /> served by another coalition of folks from Piedmont Health Services, or by the coalition led by <br /> CCNC. She said there is a toll free number for people to call to speak with a trained specialist. She <br /> said there are people out there putting this information out there. <br /> She asked the Board to help spread the word that people do not have to enroll in October. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked what efforts are being made to enroll 18-24 year olds. <br /> Colleen Bridger said there were discussions in the beginning about targeting specific <br /> population groups, but efforts have now turned more to a blanketing approach for everyone. She <br /> said this can be adjusted if there appear to be gaps. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said, after the blanket approach, there are different communication <br /> methods that can be used to target different groups. She feels that there needs to be a <br /> communication strategy. <br /> Colleen Bridger said the communications piece is a Federal program. She said Enroll <br /> America is providing a booster to that message and Orange County is providing assistance with <br /> actually filling out the forms. She said people in that age group are much more likely to be able to <br /> fill out those forms, but there is help available for choosing a plan. She said the County is taking its <br /> lead from the federal government on getting the message out. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked who is getting the flyer. <br /> Colleen Bridger said this is being given out at the health department. <br /> Commissioner Gordon said that there should be a more comprehensive communications <br /> strategy. <br /> Colleen Bridger said the County needs to target the information, but the lead is taken from <br /> the federal government. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he has been to several events where this has been discussed, <br /> and he warned that the program may have a bumpy start. He said he has directed people to the <br /> Health Department for help with computer access and use. <br /> He feels that a lot of the people who do not have health insurance are clients of county <br /> organizations. He hopes the County can put out some press releases to get the word out directing <br /> residents to the right organizations. <br /> Colleen Bridger said there are letters and flyers being mailed and other agencies are doing <br /> the same thing. <br />