Manassas health center serves as backdrop to announce new push to get more on Obamacare
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe continued his push to get more residents on the rolls of the federally-funded healthcare program known as Obamacare.
The state’s top leader was in Manassas on Friday at the Evergreen Health Center where he announced Virginia is one four states to receive a $9.3 million grant awarded by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).
If the “coverage gap” left by not expanding Medicaid were closed, McAuliffe said that the state would have saved $ 138 million, monies that could’ve went to education. To relieve this burden, Governor McAuliffe has now in place a “10-point plan” called “A Healthy Virginia” that will use state resources to get at least 200,000 insured. The grant will not only help the state financially, Governor McAuliffe said, it will also allow Virginia to create jobs and hire “100 enrolling assisters“, whose duty is to educate and guide those wanting health insurance.
Between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15, McAuliffe said his goal is to sign up at least 160,000 Virginians for health insurance. This goal is one McAuliffe is confident about meeting and surpassing because during the last enrollment period 216,000 Virginians signed up without the state embarking on any campaign to do so and only last year 1,500 Virginians enrolled at the Evergeen Health Center alone.
McAuliffe also announced a new website, coverva.org, which will allow Virginians to simply and easily enter in their address to connect them to someone who can assist them in the enrollment process. A series of television, radio and bus ads will also be purchased to echo the governor’s message about healthcare enrolment.
“Any family of three,” said Governor McAuliffe, with a yearly income between $19,790 and $79,000 “are qualified and can now get financial assistance.” Those who are qualified, said McAuliffe, need to have their home address, social security number, employer and income information, and what they estimate their income will be in 2015. If adults have children, their children will be able to register before November 15 and at Evergreen they average about 75 – 100 kids per month who enroll in health care, said Governor McAuliffe.
This grant, added McAuliffe, seeks to relieve emergency room cases and cut down costs for taxpayers.
Congressman Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, Prince William, said healthcare is as a “privilege” and not a “right” and that outside of “economics,” universal and affordable healthcare is at the “center of [American] value system.”
The grant will also directly benefit the Evergreen Health Center.
“It’s very exciting because we’re getting additional resources…[and] because those resources will translate into more people in Prince William getting affordable access to insurance for themselves and their families..” said clinic director Frank Principi. “We want to improve the quality of life for everybody that we serve…we can be a more productive society because of the steps were taking starting today. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.”
During the previous enrollment period that lasted six months, the Greater Prince William Community Health Center helped to enroll 7,000 families and has high hopes and expectations for the upcoming enrollment period thanks to Governor McAuliffe and his fellow leaders, and the community.
This story has been corrected: Gov. Terry McAuliffe wants to hire 100 people to assist residents with signing up for the federal healthcare program.
