In the fall of 2013, with the start of open enrollment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), communities across the nation will be on the verge of a major opportunity to improve the lives of Americans from all walks of life-children, low-income families, small business owners, and senior citizens. However, without careful attention to how families will hear about ACA and make critical health care insurance decisions, there is a substantial chance that this opportunity will be squandered.

An emerging strategy that charitable foundations and their grantees are exploring is leveraging already existing outreach and benefits screening programs-including EITC outreach and free tax preparation services which reach millions of low-income families each year-to be called into service for building awareness of ACA. While this exciting development is starting to emerge in communities across the nation, the fall of 2013 and the spring of 2014 are critical moments to ensure that health care systems and services providers and EITC outreach and free tax preparation services efforts come together.

Speakers: Patrick Hain, The Annie E. Casey Foundation; Diane DiGiacomo, Piton Foundation; Judy Soloman, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Steven Holt, Holt Solutions

Resources

Kaiser Family Foundation page on health reform
CBPP Health Reform page
Brochure from Piton
Understanding the Premium Tax Credit