Health Care Enrollment: Help spread the word!

From Sandy Sorensen of JWM’s Washington office:

Dear friends,

The Church has always understood itself to be an extension of Jesus Christ's healing ministry in the world. As such, it is our call as people of faith and leaders in the United Church of Christ to help connect our neighbors with the health care they need.

Open Enrollment for the health care market places runs November 1-December 15. The period is half as long as it has been in the past, and that is not an accident. It is part of a cynical, partisan attempt to weaken the Affordable Care Act.

We’re asking our churches to spread the word and ensure that all our members and communities have the info they need to get the coverage they need. We have info available on our website at ucc.org/justice_health. Here are some of the specific tools that may be helpful to the clergy and lay leaders in your conference:

• Download the Souls to Enroll Toolkit - This great toolkit from the Interfaith Healthcare Coalition has the information you need to help your congregation get enrolled, including:
  • Open Enrollment Overview
  • Key States and Deadlines
  • Faith Language about Healthcare
  • How Can I Help My Community Get Covered?
  • Facts about Open Enrollment and More
• Spread the word on social media: Use #SoulsToEnroll, #Souls2Enroll, and #GetCovered. You can also access social media graphics via this Dropbox link.
• Share this UCC commentary on your church’s social media page or as a bulletin insert - Your Health Matters: Get Covered
• Hold a Souls to Enroll Sunday - Starting Sunday, November 12-December 10, dedicate a service to uplifting health care enrollment. Place enrollment info in bulletins, invite someone to your church to speak about ACA, hang up a poster, ask congregants to pledge to get covered and more. (You can find sample posters, bulletin language, and more in the toolkit.)

Without access to health care, none of us can live out our God-given potential. Please help us spread the word about open enrollment throughout our congregations. Let’s make sure that every member of our community knows how to access the care they need.

With Gratitude,

Sandy