Expanding Health Care Coverage

Project Title

Putnam Community Action Program Health Care Enrollment

Grant Amount

$99,970

Priority Area

Expanding Health Care Coverage

Date Awarded

April 13, 2015

Region

Capital Region

Hudson Valley

Status

Closed

Website

http://www.westcop.org/

More than 1 million individuals have enrolled in public and private coverage through the NY State of Health Marketplace. Consumer assistance has played a critical role in helping previously uninsured individuals understand their health insurance options and apply for coverage—in New York alone, fully half of all those who enrolled in coverage relied on in-person assistance. Significant work remains, however, to eliminate barriers to coverage for more than 1 million New Yorkers who remain uninsured and to help those who did enroll renew their coverage. To complement the State’s efforts to engage and enroll uninsured residents, NYHealth launched in 2014 a statewide enrollment network of community-based organizations to conduct education, outreach, enrollment, and referrals. These organizations directly reach populations known to be uninsured at disproportionately high rates: low-wage workers; immigrants; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender New Yorkers. NYHealth awarded Westchester Community Opportunity Program, Inc., (WestCOP) a grant in 2013 to participate in this initiative. NYHealth awarded WestCOP a second grant to continue these efforts in 2015.

With NYHealth funding, grantees of this initiative undertook a comprehensive range of consumer engagement activities and enrolled uninsured New Yorkers into coverage. Specifically, WestCOP ensured that eligible New Yorkers in Putnam County and the rest of its service area have access to affordable care and assistance with health insurance enrollment. It targeted low-wage workers and immigrants.

View a complete list of 2015 Enrollment Network grantees.