Kentucky Health Cooperative health insurance literacy initiative helps consumers make the most of their new health coverage

LOUISVILLE, Ky., June 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Kentucky Health Cooperative, Inc., the statewide nonprofit health insurer that will be governed by its members beginning in 2015, has launched a Commonwealth-wide initiative titled "Health Insurance: How It ReallyWorks." This health insurance literacy effort is designed to help consumers learn more about how their new health coverage works. Topics include an overview of the benefits available under Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act-qualified health plans, including preventive checkups and screenings for which there is a zero-dollar copayment; familiarity with common insurance terminology, and sharpening numeracy skills required to calculate expenses beyond premiums.

Referring to the provision of the Affordable Care Act which requires the majority of Americans to avoid financial penalty by enrolling in health insurance coverage, Susan Dunlap, director of communications for the Louisville-based health insurance Cooperative, noted that for thousands of Kentuckians, health insurance coverage is an unprecedented benefit.

"Access to health insurance is a quantum leap in terms of the promise of a healthier Kentucky," Dunlap said, adding that as of late April, over 413,000 Kentuckians had enrolled in a health plan on the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange. "A growing number of consumers have now had occasion to use their benefits, and this may be leading to questions about how health insurance works," Dunlap said. The launch of this health insurance literacy effort is designed to help consumers in an objective, easy-to-understand manner. 

Dunlap and three education and outreach specialists, one of whom is fluent in Spanish, French, German and Togolese, is available to make in-person presentations to consumers residing in any of Kentucky's 120 counties. The presentation takes about 35 minutes, followed by about 25 minutes of questions-and-answers.

For more information, including scheduling requests, email [email protected].

Kentucky Health Cooperative

Kentucky Health Cooperative, based in Louisville, is dedicated to improving health outcomes by providing member-focused, accessible, cost-effective and quality-focused healthcare coverage to individuals and small groups living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentucky Health Cooperative was identified by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) to receive loans to create and operate a Consumer Oriented and Operated Plan, or health insurance CO-OP. CO-OPs are nonprofit health insurance companies that will be member-governed. Kentucky Health Cooperative began offering health plan benefits on Jan. 1, 2014.

Kentucky Health Cooperative was identified in May, 2014 by HHS to receive loans to create and operate a health insurance CO-OP in West Virginia. An office will be established in or near Charleston. West Virginia Health Cooperative will be dedicated to improving health outcomes by providing member-focused, accessible, cost-effective and quality-focused healthcare to individuals/families and small employer groups living in the Mountain State. All 55 of West Virginia's counties will be served, and health insurance coverage will begin Jan. 1, 2015.

Contact:
Susan Dunlap
Kentucky Health Cooperative
(502) 498-5539

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SOURCE Kentucky Health Cooperative