Kentucky Voices for Health is working with diverse organizations throughout the state to educate citizens about the federal Affordable Care Act and Kentucky’s new marketplace to purchase insurance.
That’s according to the executive director of the advocacy organization Regan Hunt. She spoke during a conference call on Wednesday (September 25) concerning the KVH’s efforts to promote awareness of people’s health coverage options under the Commonwealth’s new insurance exchange.
Uninsured Kentuckians can use the exchange to begin enrolling in a health care plan effective October 1st.
Hunt says her group is traveling across Kentucky, using a calendar of outreach events to explain the ACA and how it affects consumers and businesses.
"Recently, we were in Madison County, which is the home of two universities, Eastern Kentucky University and Berea College, and we had six groups meet in that county on the same day intentionally, so that we could hit retired teachers, and the library staff and students and a homeless shelter all at one time." --Regan Hunt
Hunt says documents with information about the law and Kynect are also being circulated at drug stores, health clinics and places like the YMCA.
The Affordable Care Act requires all individuals to have health insurance next year or pay a penalty. Currently, Hunt says, about 640,000 Kentuckians are without coverage.
