Labor and Covered California 2014

by Rayna Lehman,
Community Services Director

To date, more than 1.3 million Californians have enrolled in healthcare through Covered California, our “Obamacare” health exchange. The first Open Enrollment period officially closed on April 15, extended from the original March 31 deadline. The proposed dates for the next Open Enrollment are Nov. 15, 2014 to Feb.15, 2015 for 2015 coverage.

Until then, it is still possible for the uninsured to enroll if there is a qualifying “life change” reason for Special Enrollment —defined here broadly to include: loss of job related coverage, birth/adoption, marriage/divorce, income change, native tribe status and Covered California errors. All qualifying life changes must be reported within 60 days. MediCal enrollment is year round.

Labor and community partners will continue to reach out to the uninsured and newly insured, highlighting the benefits of having, using and retaining health coverage.

Local unions can also help connect members who lose employer health benefits due to lay off or reduction in hours. Contact Community Services Director for info and referral.

SM Building Trades Council Business Manager Bill Nack, SMCUCA Health Organizer Jessica Rothhaar, Assemblymember Rich Gordon, and SMCLC Community Services Director Rayna Lehman at the March 1 Enrollment Fair at Fair Oaks Community Center in Redwood City

Labor Outreach, Education and Enrollment

Under a grant our nonprofit, SMCUCA, received in cooperation with the San Mateo County Health System and the Grove Foundation, Labor initially targeted Covered California outreach presentations for sixteen San Mateo Central Labor Council (SMCLC) affiliate unions.
Ultimately, Christine Garrett, our health outreach organizer attended twenty-seven union meetings and contacted thirty-four local unions. We reached out directly to over 2,000 union members, with general information about Covered California. We tailored presentations to the needs of union workers including those facing lay-offs or construction and food workers, who often go in and out of insurance eligibility and we partnered with Covered California’s speakers.

Community Services Director did one-on-one outreach at monthly Union Food Distributions, Rapid Response workshops and meetings. Labor outreach included blast emails to affiliates, Labor paper articles and flyers. We estimate that the total number of indirect contacts about Covered California surpassed 50,000 people.

Under the leadership of our Health Organizer, Jessica Rothhaar, Labor co-sponsored four outreach and enrollment events in March, in partnership with Fair Oaks Community Center, HSA, SEIU-UHW,PIA, El Concilio, Redwood City School District, Daly City Partnership, Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center, Jefferson Elementary School District, California Health Collaborative, Turnbull CDC, San Mateo-Foster City School District, and Compassion Weekend. These events targeted Latino and immigrant populations. 201 uninsured people were screened and 125 were enrolled in healthcare.

In San Mateo County, as of March 1, there were 18,324 people newly enrolled in Covered California insurance and 13,890 enrolled in MediCal.

Labor has always prioritized access to quality, comprehensive, affordable health insurance. We bargain for the best health benefits possible. Covered California, via the Affordable Care Act, creates a health safety net for workers without employer based insurance and at some point, with more people insured, will begin to bring health care costs down.

For more information, contact Rayna Lehman, Community Services Director, 650 341-7711

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