LAWRENCE, Mass.—January 11, 2013—Building on the Patrick-Murray Administration’s success in ensuring all Massachusetts residents have access to affordable, high quality health insurance, the Massachusetts

Health Connector and Health Care for All today launched a public outreach campaign targeted to small businesses, individuals, and families in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities about available health coverage options.

Conducted in partnership with 10 community organizations, the six-week initiative will include public events, an ethnic media PR and advertising campaign, and door-to-door distribution of educational materials to small businesses and individuals statewide. These efforts will direct consumers to Health Care for All’s HelpLine (1- 800-272-4232), staffed by Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking counselors, for information about their subsidized and unsubsidized health care options.

“In the past two years, the Health Connector has achieved $103 million in savings in its program for low-tomoderate income adults,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “These savings have preserved eligibility and affordability for consumers even during challenging fiscal times. Our goal remains to expand access to coverage in every community.”

The Health Connector offers small businesses a large number of affordable plans and a wellness program, specifically designed for businesses with fewer than 25 employees, that offers up to a 15% rebate on premium costs.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and many of these employers want to provide health insurance to their workers,” said Glen Shor, Secretary of Administration and Finance. “However, often they don’t know their options. This campaign will help them learn what’s available to them, their employees, and their families.”

According to “Health Care in Massachusetts: Key Indicators,” published in May 2011 by the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, the percentage of Hispanic residents of Massachusetts without health insurance coverage was 3.9 percent in 2010, compared with 7.2% in 2008. Another area of health coverage focus is the fast-growing Portuguese speaking population. Massachusetts is the state with the largest concentration of Brazilian-owned businesses in the U.S.

“In Massachusetts, we have had significant success insuring residents, with ninety-eight percent currently covered,” said Jean Yang, Executive Director, Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority (Health Connector). “However, if we look at specific pockets of our communities, we clearly have more work to do. For example, our Hispanic community has had the highest rate of uninsured in comparison to other minority communities. We made significant progress by cutting that rate in half since Massachusetts health reform was enacted. But we can do better.”

The Health Connector received funding from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services to conduct outreach to minority communities and awarded Health Care for All (HCFA) a $1.25 million contract to conduct a needs assessment of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking small businesses, conduct public outreach, provide assistance to consumers through its HelpLine, track inquiries, and provide support for insurance appeals through Health Law Advocates, Inc.

“Our surveys of small businesses in these communities indicated that owners and their employees can be confused by the myriad of health care options,” said Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, HCFA executive director. “The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness, demystify the process and educate these consumers about choices and benefits so that they can easily become insured. We are excited to work with our regional partners to reach people where they live and work.”

Launched today, the campaign will run through February 28, 2013. Regional partners include:

Brazilian Women’s Group, Allston, Mass.
Brazilian Immigrant Center, Allston, Mass.
Camara dos Dirigentes Lojistas e Empreendedores, Lowell, Mass.
Center for Women and Enterprise, Boston, Mass.
Educationist Movement USA, Worcester, Mass.
Immigrants’ Assistance Center, New Bedford, Mass.
Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce, Boston, Mass,
Massachusetts Alliance for Portuguese Speakers
(Brighton, Cambridge, Dorchester, Framingham, Lowell, Somerville)
Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce
(Boston, Holyoke, Lawrence, Springfield, Worcester)
North Shore Latino Business Association, Lynn, Mass.

About the Massachusetts Health Connector

Established in 2006, the Massachusetts Health Connector helps Massachusetts residents find affordable, quality health care. More than 400,000 Massachusetts residents have gained health coverage since the Commonwealth’s historic enactment of health care reform, and nearly 240,000 obtain health insurance through the Massachusetts Health Connector. Massachusetts leads the nation in the percentage of residents with health insurance, with more than 98 percent of people covered.

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