Networking Collaboration Community Empowerment News from Council www.ahssc.org May 2013 Affordable Care Act Update: Implementing Medicare Cost Savings”. On May 17, 2013, Asian Health and Social Service Council (AHSSC) hosted its monthly meeting at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in Manhattan. The title of the presentation was “Affordable Care Act Update: Implementing Medicare Cost Savings”. Maggie Wong, Coordinator of Marketing Programs at CBWCHC and the VP of AHSSC, gave welcoming remarks and an introduction to her program at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, Director of Project CHARGE of the Coalition for Health Access to Reach Greater Equity in NYC, presented an overview of key provisions of the ACA impacting Asian Americans. In addition, she provided some ACA updates and specific developments from the last six months and discussed the next steps with the ACA.
Transcript
Networking Collaboration Community
Empowerment
News from Council www.ahssc.org May 2013
Affordable Care Act Update:
Implementing Medicare Cost Savings”.
On May 17, 2013, Asian Health and Social Service Council (AHSSC) hosted its monthly
meeting at Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in Manhattan. The title of the
presentation was “Affordable Care Act Update: Implementing Medicare Cost Savings”.
Maggie Wong, Coordinator of Marketing Programs at CBWCHC and the VP of AHSSC,
gave welcoming remarks and an introduction to her program at Charles B. Wang
Community Health Center.
Noilyn Abesamis-Mendoza, Director of Project CHARGE of the Coalition for Health
Access to Reach Greater Equity in NYC, presented an overview of key provisions of the
ACA impacting Asian Americans. In addition, she provided some ACA updates and
specific developments from the last six months and discussed the next steps with the
ACA.
Noilyn briefly described Project CHARGE which was formed in 2007 and has 16
organizational partners. The purpose of CHARGE is to increase the capacity of
community based organizations to do policy/advocacy with the goal of ensuring
access to health care.
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The law
puts in place comprehensive health insurance reforms that will roll out over four
years and beyond. Noilyn stated there are 47 million uninsured individuals nationally
and 2.6 million of them are New Yorkers. There are 50% of uninsured adults in NYS
who work full-time jobs. Noilyn stated one million people will gain insurance due to
the full implementation impact of Exchange and Reforms in NY. With ACA, 1) new
coverage options and standard benefits will be offered, 2) new way to shop and buy
insurance (marketplace), and 3) new timeline, mandates, and tax changes for
individuals and businesses. An Exchange is defined as an organized marketplace
where it allows easy comparison of health plan options, tax credits can be obtained
and a single, streamline application for enrollment. There are two programs:
individual exchange and employer exchange called the Small Business Health Options
Program (SHOP).
The functions of the Exchange with regards to eligibility and enrollment include: 1)
toll-free telephone hotline, 2) web portal for eligibility determination and enrollment,
3) ability to calculate the actual cost of coverage after individual tax credits and cost
sharing reductions and 4) certify individuals as exempt from individual responsibility.
A health consumer can choose from 4 options which include 10 health benefits:
platinum, gold, silver and bronze. Platinum option has the highest premium but
lowest cost-cost sharing. The eligibility to enroll in the Exchange include: 1) NYS
Resident, 2) Under the age of 65 years (unless you are a caretaker or a parent), 3)
citizen, legal permanent resident or lawfully present in the US, 4) do not have access
to adequate or affordable employer sponsored coverage, and 5) own or work for a
small business with 2 to 50 employees.
Noilyn stated that ACA helped NY so far in the following areas: 1) parents can keep
their children on their health insurance until age 26, 2) Medicare “donut hole” is
phasing out, 3) preventive care services are free, 4) ban on lifetime limits on health
benefits, and 5) small businesses can get tax credits to cover up to 35% of providing
health insurance to employees. With regards to timeline of next steps, Noilyn stated
that grassroots outreach activities began in April 2013. Health plans would be
selected in July 2013 for participating in 2014. In-person assistor/navigators would be
announced and training will begin in July & August 2013. Customer service will be
open for business in September 2013 along with advertising campaign. Open
enrollment will begin on October 1 through March 31, 2014. Coverage will begin in
January 2014.
Noilyn provided the following links to some useful website:
Federal Health Reform: www.healthcare.gov
New York State Health Benefit Exchange: www.healthbenefitexchange.ny.gov
NYC Health Insurance Link: www.nyc.gov/hilink
Executive
Members
Senior Advisors:
Selina Chan,
Kenneth Lam,
Edward Ma
Advisor:
Susan Wong
President:
Teresa Lin
Vice President:
David Chau
Treasurer:
Serene Nie
Secretaries:
Kieu Loan Mia
Eva Wong
Committee Chairs
Event Committee:
Frank Liang
Pending
Media Committee:
Maggie Wong
Pending**
Membership
Committee:
Jane Wong
Research
Committee:
Kieu Loan Mia
Advocacy
Committee:
Edward Ma
Website
Committee:
Pending:
North Star
Committee:
Pending
Address: 39 Bowery, PMB 135 New York NY 10002 Tel: 646-688-3312 E-mail: [email protected]
Emergency Preparedness:
How to Get Yourself and Others Ready
During this meeting, not only you will learn the latest updates and training to
equip yourself in emergency situations, you will also be provided with the
tools to conduct your own Emergency Preparedness workshop at your own
