Life-saving changes are well under way through federal health care reform, or the Affordable Care Act, and we must stand up to the challenge. We all know someone with no insurance or inadequate health care. We can help them get high-quality, affordable health care starting next month.
The enrollment challenge ahead is greatest in the LGBT community, whose members are more likely to be uninsured.
A Gallup poll conducted last year found one-quarter of LGBT adults do not have enough money for health care, compared with 17 percent of non-LGBT individuals. Additionally, 29 percent of LGBT adults lack a personal doctor compared to 21 percent of their non-LGBT peers. This gap is widest among women, with 29 percent of LGBT women lacking a personal doctor compared with 16 percent of non-LGBT women.
Among uninsured LGBT people, the Center for American Progress found that 67 percent were without insurance for over two years and 60 percent had put off medical care in the past 12 months because they could not afford it. Complicating these figures is the lack of awareness about new insurance options now available through health care reform. Only 29 percent of uninsured LGBT people have heard about them.
For these reasons, it is important to acknowledge the progress made in getting more Californians insured and that there is a lot more work to be done.
During the first Covered California open enrollment period, in 2013, 1.3 million Californians obtained health care. Over 319,000 of them were in the nine-county Bay Area. Last year, we added another 495,000 individuals across California and over 93,000 of them are in the Bay Area.
In order to help more people get insured this year, I am hosting an enrollment fair with Covered California on November 1 to kick off their open enrollment period. Please come join us from 1:00–4:00pm at the Richmond Recreation Center located at 251 18th Ave, in San Francisco. Bring your Social Security number, legal identification (driver’s license or state ID), proof of income (tax return, W-2, pay stub) and proof of citizenship or legal residency.
If you are not sure what kind of coverage is right for you, we will have counselors on hand to advise you about health insurance options and eligibility for financial assistance to help meet insurance costs. Certified Covered California agents will also be on hand to enroll attendees into health plans on the spot.
If you or a loved one are thinking of skipping open enrollment, consider these figures. Before the Affordable Care Act, medical emergencies were the leading cause for personal bankruptcy—over 60%. And, living without health insurance in 2016 will cost you money. When filing your federal income taxes, penalties will be assessed at $695 per person and $347.50 per child under the age of 18.
Freedom from these problems and the accompanying peace of mind are just some of the reasons why it is so important for Californians to take advantage of open enrollment.
For further information, please visit www.coveredca.com
Phil Ting represents the 19th Assembly District, which includes the Westside of San Francisco as well as the cities of Broadmoor, Colma and Daly City
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