UM Students Get Certified To Help With ACA Enrollment
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - The University of Miami has taken an unprecedented step to encourage young adults to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Medical students at the university's Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine underwent training to become certified student Certified Application Counselors. The ACA relies on "navigators" and other counselors to help sign people up for insurance. Traditionally, those roles have been filled by adults, but UM recruited its medical students for the job.
The newly certified students plan to host "a series of community enrollment events that will provide comprehensive, in-person assistance to guide uninsured and under-insured "young invincibles" through the process of understanding their options for quality, affordable coverage in the health insurance Marketplace," according to a statement from the university.
The enrollment events will be coordinated by the Health Council of South Florida and the Get Covered America campaign.
Besides youth, a special outreach focus will be on Latinos and African-Americans at each event. According to a recent study, Latinos (35%) and African Americans (40%) lack knowledge about financial subsidies, new plans, and the March 31 enrollment deadline.
