Vilsack promotes ACA to rural America
November 20, 2014 | 04:14 PM
In observance of National Rural Health Day, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $10 million in USDA rural health grants and urged rural Americans who have not signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act to do so before the December 15 deadline.
Vilsack announced that USDA is awarding $8.64 million in telemedicine grants that will make it easier for rural health care centers to connect with specialists in larger centers. (See link for the list of individual grants.)
He also said that USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is awarding 12 grants totaling more than $1.4 million to universities aimed at improving health and safety education efforts in rural areas.
Vilsack said the Obama administration has invested more than $3 billion in health care infrastructure in rural America since 2009.
The secretary also noted that rural Americans have benefited from the insurance available under the Affordable Care Act, and urged people who have not yet signed up for health insurance to go to the federal Health Insurance Marketplace website or do so by telephone.
“Rural residents have higher rates of chronic conditions. This can be exacerbated by a lack of doctors or clinics in rural communities,” Vilsack said in a news release.
“The Affordable Care Act is improving the health of rural communities and giving all families the security they deserve,” he said. “No one should go without health care because of where they live, or be forced to leave the communities they love to get the coverage they need.”
Open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace began November 15, and continues through February 15, 2015. Consumers can review and compare health plan options online and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance, which can help pay monthly premiums and reduce out-of-pocket health care costs.
In order to have coverage effective on January 1, 2015, consumers must enroll or update their coverage by December 15.
Vilsack noted that consumers can also call 1-800-318-2596
The New York Times reported recently that despite the criticism of the program also known as “Obamacare,” rural Americans are one of the groups that has benefited disproportionately from it.
“The biggest winners from the law include people between the ages of 18 and 34; blacks; Hispanics; and people who live in rural areas,” the Times said in its analysis.
“The areas with the largest increases in the health insurance rate, for example, include rural Arkansas and Nevada; southern Texas; large swaths of New Mexico, Kentucky and West Virginia; and much of inland California and Oregon.”
▪ National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (Video) — National Rural Health Day 2014 Tribute
▪ USDA (Infographic) — Affordable Care Act: Getting Covered is Good for Rural America
▪ Health Insurance Marketplace
▪ USDA Rural Development — 2014 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Awards
▪ USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture — 2014 Rural Health and Safety Education Grants
▪ The New York Times — Obama’s Health Law: Who Was Helped Most
Vilsack announced that USDA is awarding $8.64 million in telemedicine grants that will make it easier for rural health care centers to connect with specialists in larger centers. (See link for the list of individual grants.)
He also said that USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is awarding 12 grants totaling more than $1.4 million to universities aimed at improving health and safety education efforts in rural areas.
Vilsack said the Obama administration has invested more than $3 billion in health care infrastructure in rural America since 2009.
The secretary also noted that rural Americans have benefited from the insurance available under the Affordable Care Act, and urged people who have not yet signed up for health insurance to go to the federal Health Insurance Marketplace website or do so by telephone.
“Rural residents have higher rates of chronic conditions. This can be exacerbated by a lack of doctors or clinics in rural communities,” Vilsack said in a news release.
“The Affordable Care Act is improving the health of rural communities and giving all families the security they deserve,” he said. “No one should go without health care because of where they live, or be forced to leave the communities they love to get the coverage they need.”
Open enrollment through the Health Insurance Marketplace began November 15, and continues through February 15, 2015. Consumers can review and compare health plan options online and find out if they are eligible for financial assistance, which can help pay monthly premiums and reduce out-of-pocket health care costs.
In order to have coverage effective on January 1, 2015, consumers must enroll or update their coverage by December 15.
Vilsack noted that consumers can also call 1-800-318-2596
The New York Times reported recently that despite the criticism of the program also known as “Obamacare,” rural Americans are one of the groups that has benefited disproportionately from it.
“The biggest winners from the law include people between the ages of 18 and 34; blacks; Hispanics; and people who live in rural areas,” the Times said in its analysis.
“The areas with the largest increases in the health insurance rate, for example, include rural Arkansas and Nevada; southern Texas; large swaths of New Mexico, Kentucky and West Virginia; and much of inland California and Oregon.”
▪ National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (Video) — National Rural Health Day 2014 Tribute
▪ USDA (Infographic) — Affordable Care Act: Getting Covered is Good for Rural America
▪ Health Insurance Marketplace
▪ USDA Rural Development — 2014 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Awards
▪ USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture — 2014 Rural Health and Safety Education Grants
▪ The New York Times — Obama’s Health Law: Who Was Helped Most
