Covered California is reaching out to uninsured African Americans, seeking to spread the work about subsidized offerings in places “where they live, work, pray and play.”
A new marketing and outreach campaign seeks to increase African-American enrollments in the state’s health coverage program.
Black consumers lag behind other ethnicities in awareness of subsidies offered via the state’s Obamacare operation, research shows.
Covered California began its third open enrollment period with a push to educate the uninsured about the government benefits available to those who meet income qualifications. Most of those who buy private health insurance via Covered California receive subsidies.
“New data show that active enrollment among subsidy-eligible African-Americans is at 2.4 percent while African-Americans constitute 5 percent of the state’s subsidy-eligible population,” Covered California said.
The organization has previously made promo pushes for Hispanic , and Asian consumers.
“The campaign centers around establishing enrollment storefronts at highly familiar and visible locations; conducting marketing and outreach that is specific to African-American consumers; and engaging businesses, schools, churches and community organizations,” Covered California said on the eve of open enrollment for 2016.
“We’ve made great progress in helping African-Americans gain the coverage they need and deserve, but we recognize there is much more to be done to prove to the remaining uninsured the value of having health coverage,” said Covered California chief Peter Lee.
Emphasis areas are in Los Angeles and San Diego counties and the Inland Empire, where two-thirds of California’s 130,000 subsidy-eligible African-Americans live. Targeted areas in Northern California are in parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano and Sacramento counties.
The third open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act runs Nov. 1 through Jan. 31.
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