“The California Endowment and SEIU-UHW are important partners as we seek to provide millions of Californians access to affordable health care, including low-cost to no-cost Medi-Cal coverage,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “This event was a significant opportunity for the public to get their questions answered and to enroll in affordable, quality health care.”
Attendees used the Web Connector, an online resource developed by the Intuit Financial Freedom Foundation, to determine exactly which programs they may be eligible for and how to apply. Enrollment into Cal-Fresh, the food assistance program for low-income Californians, was also available for those who qualified. Other money-saving resources at the event included information about affordable housing and low-cost auto insurance.
The event was part of the Endowment’s “Get Covered” or “Asegúrate” initiative, which seeks to educate Californians about Obamacare and the expanded opportunities for coverage created by the new health care law. It is part of a series of events across targeted counties that represent more than 90 percent of those who are eligible but uninsured, and supports the Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities 10-year initiative.
Event Partner Information
About WE Connect
WE Connect, a program founded in 2005 by former First Lady of California Maria Shriver and now run by The California Endowment, empowers families in underserved communities to lead healthier and more financially secure lives by connecting them to resources such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, California’s Healthy Families Program and CalFresh. This nationwide campaign connects those eligible with the information and tools they need to access these valuable resources. The program has successfully resulted in helping millions of Californians through its community events, web-based tools, public-private partnerships, and publications. Through a partnership with La Opinión, the nation’s largest Spanish-speaking newspaper, WE Connect has developed four editions of a 24-page, full color, bilingual supplement that has been distributed to over 20 million Californians in need. For more information about the WE Connect program, please visit www.weconnect.net.
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 SEIU-UHW
Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a California union made up of 150,000 healthcare workers who work in hospitals, nursing homes, and in the community as home care providers. Our members are frontline caregivers, including respiratory care practitioners, dietary, environmental services and nursing staff who keep Californians healthy. We live and work throughout California from the Bay Area to Sacramento and Los Angeles to the Central Valley. Our union of healthcare workers is driven to improve the healthcare system. Our mission is to provide quality care for all patients, expand access to excellent, affordable healthcare for all Californians and improve living standards for all workers. Learn more at http://www.seiu-uhw.org.
About Covered California
Covered California is the state’s marketplace for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Covered California, in partnership with the California Department of Health Care Services, was charged with creating a new health insurance marketplace in which individuals and small businesses can get access to affordable health insurance plans. With coverage starting in 2014, Covered California helps individuals determine whether they are eligible for premium assistance that is available on a sliding-scale basis to reduce insurance costs or whether they are eligible for low-cost or no-cost Medi-Cal. Consumers can then compare health insurance plans and choose the plan that works best for their health needs and budget. Small businesses can purchase competitively priced health insurance plans and offer their employees the ability to choose from an array of plans and may qualify for federal tax credits. For more information on Covered California, please visit www.CoveredCA.com.
