From the University of Maryland Extension Office:
Sweeping health care reform legislation means hundreds of millions of Americans will soon have more options than ever before when it comes to health insurance. Yet research shows the vast majority of people in this country are uncomfortable, overwhelmed and intimidated when it comes to making decisions about health insurance coverage.
That’s why a team of experts from across the nation, led by the University of Maryland Extension developed Smart Choice – a comprehensive, research-based, unbiased curriculum designed to equip people with the tools they need to make the best decision possible for their families when choosing health insurance.
Smart Choice is the result of two years of research and pilot-testing that took place in seven states and will roll out this fall through a series of educator and consumer workshops to be held throughout the country. Through these workshops, participants will learn how to analyze what they need and want from health care providers, compare plans, calculate how health insurance will affect their financial budgets, and ultimately, apply the information and knowledge gained to make a smart choice. Consumer guides were produced in both Spanish and English to reach a wider segment of the population.
“Smart Choice is not about pushing consumers to select any one specific plan,” says Bonnie Braun, co-leader of the team of University of Maryland and Delaware experts that developed Smart Choice. “It’s designed to help people gain a set of skills so that they can choose a plan that best fits their family’s needs and then use that plan efficiently once enrolled.”
“As the local Extension educator”, says Dr. Virginia Brown, University of Maryland Extension, “I’m pleased to offer this workshop here in Harford County. I know people want to make smart choices about their health and finances. This workshop can help them do just that.”
With health insurance currently in the public spotlight, Smart Choice seeks to capitalize on this teachable moment by helping Americans take control of their personal and family financial health needs.
“Keeping your head above water can be extremely difficult when navigating the waters of health insurance – whether you’ve been insured throughout your life or are faced with selecting coverage for the very first time,” says Brown. “Smart Choice acts like a life vest: it empowers people by eliminating the intimidation factor, explaining the steps in the process and ultimately showing them how to find the best fit for their needs.”
Programs have been scheduled in the following Harford County locations:
– Monday, November 18th at Joppa Library Branch from 6-8pm
– Tuesday, December 10th at University of Maryland Extension, Harford County from 6:30-8:30pm
– Saturday, January 11th at Aberdeen Library Branch from 2-4pm
– Monday, January 27th at Joppa Library Branch from 6-8pm
Space is limited and registration is required to call each location and enroll early!
For more information on Smart Choice, visit www.extension.umd.edu/insure. For local information about workshops, call Dr. Virginia Brown at 410-386-2760.
The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, or gender identity and expression.
Direct quote: “Sweeping health care reform legislation means hundreds of millions of Americans will soon have more options than ever before when it comes to health insurance.” Unbiased my arse. Pretty safe prediction that this is nothing more than propaganda. Go ahead – hold all the seminars you want but in the words of Jon Stewart “you can’t spin this turd”.
The first paragraph on the website this press release refers you to better sums up what this is and what people are really thinking. That a program is needed to answer these questions should say enough about how much sense the “Affordable” Care Act makes.
My Smart Choice Health Insurance Consumer Workbook
It’s open enrollment for health insurance. Are you dreading the choice-making? Are you confused by the choices? Do you want to know the questions and answers you need to make a smart choice?
Interesting that some folks quickly respond negatively to any informaton about the new health care act, which will benefit many who need that information because they’re “uncomfortable, overwhelmed and intimidated” but don’t care to be interested or get involved in their own communities until it’s too late. Today’s Dagger blog is a classic example: No one responded to all the new homes being built in Havre de Grace but just wait until the bulldozers come, houses get planted, and the traffic increases–there will be ruthless criticism about planning, crowded schools, etc. Being at the initial community input meetings is an important step in realizing how your area is being developed . Pay close attention to what happens around your neighborhood and, if there are some folks who need help getting health insurance who are offered some assistance, be glad they’re getting it. Some of us don’t have any.
Wtf? I replied to that article, yo.
Elsie get a job and buy your own insurance.
I owe you nothing.
Elsie, thanks for jumping in with your favorite rant about housing. We all know you want housing but you want to put it where you want it and not where people want it or need it. And where you want it is very far from where you will ever see it.
Now as to health insurance, there will be a lot of people who will need help because they are getting kicked off the plans that they had and will no longer be able to keep the doctors they trust. Mr. Obama promised over and over again that wouldn’t happen but that simply wasn’t true then and I believe he and his administration knew it then. He now agrees that it wasn’t true. Official court documents filed by the Department of Justice recently document that they knew it all along and that the worst is yet to come as many, many millions more will have their plans cancelled between now and Q3 of next year.
I suggest you, since you indicate that you don’t have health insurance, go to the web site and sign up right away for that high quality, low cost insurance promised by Mr. Obama. It would probably be a better use of your time rather than posting on Dagger. Oh, wait, I forgot, the web site doesn’t work and any information you put in to it isn’t secure. And the cost is higher.
Alex you are being hard on Elsie. Elsie is right we need progressive smart growth run by trained government employees who know what’s best for the environment and people. As to health care for Elsie if she isn’t a government worker with benefits or works for a greedy capitalist business owner she could consider Medicare? She may need to reorganize and secrete her finances and line up available government assistance before she quits her employment. Many people should consider a government assisted life-style until selfish employers share their wealth, provide high pay, benefits and pensions.
Upton my good friend you are fighting the good fight for progressivism and winning. Keep up the good work. Great advice to Elsie by the way.
Yes, Upton, Elsie has to learn that life is hard, and getting harder for those of us who support both ourselves and folks like you.
Maybe Elsie could post a picture of herself as she secretes her money. Depends on which orifice the money actually comes from.
Alex R it’s progressivism by any means possible. We planned the ACA launch to fail and we will achieve single-payer. You are no match for us.
Thanks, Richard. Good thing you didn’t want it to succeed because you Progressive Socialists just aren’t smart enough to achieve it. If you guys put half of the energy in to actually getting something done correctly as you do in to being devious, hypocritical liars then maybe you would have some credibility. I see that 63% of Americans are racist based on the all time low approval rating of 37% of the president. 37% and falling. Even Clinton says he needs to keep his promises. And I note that G W Bush is staying quiet on the matter. It is the former Democratic president who is criticizing Mr. Obama.
Maybe Elsie could get one of the Navigators to help her lie her way thru the application. They seem to be doing a great job of that.