The California Endowment Announces $9.2 Million Investment Over Three Years To Provide Consumer Assistance For New Health Insurance Options

Grant to Health Consumer Alliance Will Fund Community-Based Assistance

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Endowment today announced a $9.2 million grant to the Health Consumer Alliance to help Californians navigate new public and private health coverage options available to them as a result of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. This investment is part of The Endowment's campaign to educate Californians about the new health care law and enroll those eligible in public and private health insurance plans. Covered California, the state's insurance marketplace, will also provide $3.4 million in federal funds towards the effort.

"With Covered California set to open for enrollment in October and the state's Medi-Cal expansion underway, millions of uninsured and underinsured Californians will be newly eligible for affordable, quality health coverage," said Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and CEO of The California Endowment. "Successful implementation of Obamacare will depend on getting Californians enrolled. Our commitment, along with Covered California's, will help them access and understand their options through community-based assistance provided by Health Consumer Alliance."

The Health Consumer Alliance is a statewide partnership of legal aid organizations that educate low-income Californians about their health insurance rights and options. Funding from the Endowment will be used to help consumers identify and apply for health coverage programs, as well as provide them with assistance regarding eligibility, appeals, and benefits.

"Heath consumer centers like our own provide direct assistance to thousands of low-income Californians each year, either over the phone or in-person," said Gregory Knoll, Executive Director of the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, a member organization of the Health Consumer Alliance. "It is critical that Californians have the help they need in order to enroll. The Endowment's investment will go a long way in helping us to meet the increased demand for information and assistance that will come with new health coverage opportunities."

This announcement follows other Endowment investments in Obamacare implementation, including:

$26.5 million in Medi-Cal outreach and enrollment assistance. $14 million will be used to support enrollment for up to 450,000 Medi-Cal applicants, and $12.5 million will be made available to grants for counties and community-based organizations (CBO's) for Medi-Cal-related outreach to mixed-status families, the homeless, school-age children, and other vulnerable populations. The entire commitment will receive a federal match, for a total investment of $53 million.

$78 million towards Obamacare workforce development, over a period of four years. This investment will fund health professional training slots for underserved communities, scholarships and loan repayment programs, clinic teaching sites and other programs designed to increase and diversify California's health workforce.

About The California Endowment
The California Endowment, a private, statewide health foundation, was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people's health. Through its 'Health Happens Here' campaign and ten-year initiative for Building Healthy Communities, The Endowment is creating places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. At its core, The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods, schools, and with prevention. For more information, visit The California Endowment's homepage at www.calendow.org.

About Health Consumer Alliance
The Health Consumer Alliance is a partnership of consumer assistance programs operated by community-based legal service organizations. Their mission is to help Californians obtain essential health care. Since opening its doors in October 1998, the Health Consumer Alliance has helped more than 128,000 consumers with health access problems.

SOURCE The California Endowment