AAHD is excited to announce a new project in partnership with Community Catalyst and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This project is aimed at conducting Medicaid outreach to raise awareness about the potential enrollment in the program for individuals without health insurance. At AAHD, we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on this country. Of the many consequences we’re facing from the pandemic and resulting economic downturn, one that is important to pay attention to is the rising number of people who are uninsured. As people lose work or have their hours cut back, they often lose benefits like their health insurance too. Nationwide, over 10 million people have lost their health coverage.
Health insurance is an essential part of keeping ourselves and our families safe and healthy. It gives you the peace of mind knowing you’re covered if you get sick or injured, so you can get the care you need when you need it and avoid large medical bills. Fortunately, Medicaid provides low-cost or free options to help keep people covered during these turbulent times. This project will emphasize the fact that Medicaid is low-cost or free health insurance that covers doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, mental health care, and more.
Of course, many Americans continue to adapt during these times – looking for new jobs, new supports, new ways to take care of themselves and their families. Medicaid can offer temporary coverage while the economy is uncertain, so families can protect both their health and their wallet. That means people with disabilities or who suffer from chronic conditions can afford the medications they need, or see a mental health care professional to help with the stress and anxiety that many of us are facing during this time.
Through the use of social media, AAHD will be highlighting these messages using graphics like the one below which emphasize that Medicaid can provide relief.
The organizations partnering with Community Catalyst on the Medicaid Outreach Partnership are:
- Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS)
- American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD)
- American Library Association (ALA)
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF)
- CenterLink
- Farmworker Justice
- Feeding America
- NAACP
- National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
- National Urban League
- UnidosUS
- Raising Women’s Voices