Enroll America's Efforts to Maximize ACA Insurance Coverage: An Interview with Jessica Barba Brown (October 4th)

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This past October 1st uninsured Americans who qualify for coverage under the Affordable Care Act could begin choosing a health care insurance plan offered via their state's healthcare insurance marketplace or exchange.  The CBO estimates about 14 million Americans will buy health care insurance for 2014 and about 25 million will do so by the end of the decade (still leaving about 20 million Americans uninsured).  Those that make more than the Federal Poverty Level/FPL but less than four times that level, or $94,000 for a family of four, can buy subsidized insurance and for those making less that 133% of the FPL ($15,000 a year for a single adult or $31,000 a year for a family of four) can sign up for Medicaid if their state is participating in the ACA's Medicaid expansion program - currently 24 states.   Many American who can reasonably afford health care insurance do not buy it and approximately 40% of Americans who qualify for Medicaid do not subscribe.  Since policy is what policy does, the relevant question is how many Americans will sign up for health care insurance under the ACA.

During this 22-minute interview, Ms. Barba Brown discusses Enroll America's mission, its various activites, moreover in 10 states, to advocate for coverage and to educate the uninsured about obtaining either private insurance or Medicaid coverage and how and why she believes Americans will substantially sign up for health care insurance under the ACA.

Ms. Jessica Barba Brown currently serves as National Communications Director for Enroll America.  Previously she was Vice President for Program Development at Faith in Public Life and prior still Communications Director for former U.S. Representative Tom Perriello.  Ms. Barba Brown began her career managing communications and branding efforts for nonprofit social service organizations such as City Year New York and CancerCare in New York City.  She holds a B.A. in Gender and Sexuality Studies from New York University.