Last year, the national uninsured rate increased for the first time since the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010. Approximately 2 million Americans and 25,000 Michiganders lost health insurance coverage between 2017 and 2018. In light of these loss of coverage trends, as well as Michigan’s pending work requirements, this year’s open enrollment activities will take on new significance as the WHI’s Medicaid and Marketplace Outreach and Enrollment (MMOE) Group works to ensure that Washtenaw County residents enroll and stay enrolled.
Nearly thirty University of Michigan students were trained this month to assist the MMOE group with health insurance enrollment activities. The training event, which was held at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, resulted in 20 students signing up to help distribute enrollment flyers in communities with lower coverage rates and to assist with community enrollment events.
The first of those enrollment events took place on October 10 at Washtenaw Community College (WCC). WCC students were able to stop by to ask questions about Medicaid and 15 students, some with family members, worked with enrollment volunteers from Michigan Medicine, the St. Joseph Mercy Health System, and the Washtenaw Health Plan to complete Medicaid applications.
On November 7, enrollment student volunteers will support another enrollment event at Washtenaw Community College and on November 20 they will do the same at both Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan. Please join us in thanking our student volunteers and enrollment specialists for the work they’re doing to support enrollment activities across the county.