Contra Costa County will have its open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders tomorrow, Nov. 15, at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium.
The enrollment event is the first in California, and perhaps in the nation, to provide “culturally-appropriate efforts” in understanding healthcare coverage options in 17 Asian and Pacific Islander languages, according to County Supervisor John Gioia’s e-mail.
Terrence Cheung, Gioia’s Chief of Staff, said that they are proud of this accomplishment in communicating with diverse nationalities for accessing the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, aims to provide more people with affordable health insurance, including preventive services on new health plans.
According to Covered California, the state’s marketplace for affordable health insurance plans, they are expecting a total enrollment of 1.7 million Californians or almost 50 percent increase from previous record after the open enrollment ends by Feb. 15 next year.
An analysis from the American Public Health Association showed that such effort is required for “vulnerable populations,” such as Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Residents may enroll, renew or change their healthcare coverage plans during the event, which will be open from 10am – 2pm tomorrow.
At the event, translations to Burmese, Cantonese, Hindi, Khmu, Korean, Lao, Mandarin, Mien, Nepalese, Punjabi, Samoan, Tagalog, Thai, Tibetan, Tongan, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Spanish languages will be available.
Persons applying for their families would be required to bring proof of current income, state identification card or driver’s license, proof of residence/citizenship (U.S. passport, legal resident card or certificate of citizenship or naturalization), and information on birth dates, social security numbers and home zip code.
Registration can be done online through www.getcoveredcontracosta.eventbrite.ca
Loi Ameera Almeron 