An August 2013 Kaiser Health Tracking Poll revealed “more than four-in-ten Americans think the new health care law has been repealed, overturned in court or are just unsure whether it remains the law.” The same amount of people surveyed stated they trust “a lot” the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, information their doctors or nurses give them – the highest among even federal and state agencies and well above insurance companies. Oddly, though, most Americans are not receiving information about the ACA, including exchange marketplace information, from healthcare professionals but rather news media and family and friends, both of which rank lower on survey participants’ trust scales for the information. A full 65% admit they have not sought information on the ACA, and about half of those surveyed reported experience comparing health insurance plans in the past.
The Kaiser Family Foundation poll includes additional, enlightening information, including data pertinent to specific demographic groups. Healthcare professionals are trusted sources of ACA information, but clearly we are not having these discussions with patients or the public. Perhaps it’s because even the experts are still novices on the ACA and we lack the education and confidence to share this dialogue with others? If you find yourself in this predicament, here’s a synopsis of helpful, easy-to-understand resources:
- Animation Makes Everything Better: Understanding the Affordable Care Act [Video]
- Health Insurance Exchanges [Video]
- The YouToons Get Ready for Obamacare: Health Insurance Changes Coming Your Way Under the Affordable Care Act [Video]
- Zooming in on Health Reform: Understanding the Potential Impact of the ACA on Medicaid and the Uninsured at the Local Level [Interactive Tool]
- Health Reform Implementation Timeline
- Health Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act [Infographic/Algorithm]
- Health Insurance Marketplace Fact Sheet
- State-by-State ACA Fact Sheets
Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace begins October 1, 2013, which is right around the corner. It will last until March 31, 2014, and coverage begins January 1, 2014. Everyone can access the Marketplace at www.healthcare.gov or www.cuidadodesalud.gov, and you can prepare for the Marketplace before October 1st via numerous ways.
Have you sought information about the ACA and how it will impact you as well as your patients? Are you having these conversations with your patients to ensure they’re informed about the ACA and how it will (or already has) impact their care?
References
Kaiser Family Foundation. (August 28, 2013). Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: August 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013, from http://kff.org/health-reform/poll-finding/kaiser-health-tracking-poll-august-2013/
