Losing your health insurance? JABA reminds consumers that affordable health coverage is still available

Enroll in comprehensive, affordable coverage on HealthCare.gov before time runs out!

Charlottesville, Virginia – With unprecedented unemployment during the public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic -- including 493,501 people filing new unemployment claims in Virginia between mid-March and April 18th -- many people have lost their job-based health insurance. HealthCare.gov can help these people secure comprehensive and affordable coverage, but they must act quickly.

Individuals who lose their job-based coverage qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) on HealthCare.gov. This opens up a 60-day window to enroll in coverage, often with financial assistance that reduces monthly costs. If someone misses their chance to enroll, they may be unable to enroll in coverage on HealthCare.gov until November 1, 2020, for coverage beginning in 2021.

“As unemployment numbers in recent weeks dwarf the worst weeks of the Great Recession, millions of Americans are losing the job-based insurance they rely upon to get access to quality, affordable care,” said Randy Rodgers, JABA's Manager of Insurance Counseling. “HealthCare.gov has comprehensive and affordable coverage that these workers can enroll in, but they must act quickly.”

Employees may be given the option to extend their job-based coverage by enrolling in COBRA, but employers often don’t contribute to the cost of the plan so the individual pays full price. This can make COBRA cost-prohibitive, with an average monthly premium of about $640 for a single individual, and $1,840 a month for a family of four for a typical employer plan. HealthCare.gov plans are likely to be significantly more affordable due to the financial assistance available, which 84 percent of Virginia’s marketplace enrollees qualify for. After financial assistance, the average monthly premium on HealthCare.gov is $94 in Virginia.

Individuals who didn’t have insurance through their employer and are currently uninsured may still be able to enroll in coverage if they experience a life event that qualifies them for an SEP, such as getting married or having a baby. People can go to www.HealthCare.gov/screener to find out if they might qualify for an SEP. By visiting HealthCare.gov, people who’ve lost their jobs or seen their incomes drop can also learn whether they qualify for free or low-cost comprehensive coverage through Medicaid.

Consumers enrolling in a plan on HealthCare.gov are guaranteed to receive comprehensive coverage, with no pre-existing condition exclusions or markups. HealthCare.gov plans are required to cover essential health benefits (such as prescription drugs, lab services, hospitalization). Testing and treatment of COVID-19 are considered essential health benefits and are covered by all HealthCare.gov plans, and testing is covered with no cost sharing.

Consumers should avoid insurance plans offered outside of HealthCare.gov that seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, a bevy of “junk insurance” products are available due to loosened regulations, and they pose huge financial risks to consumers. These products aren’t required to comply with ACA regulations, which means they can deny coverage to consumers with pre-existing conditions, charge consumers more based on their gender, reject claims altogether for health care services related to a pre-existing condition, and impose annual coverage limits. Many won’t cover the COVID-19-related services people need.

The health insurance landscape can be confusing, but free, local help is available. You can find someone to help you navigate the enrollment process by calling JABA’s Insurance Counseling at 434-817-5248 or visiting Healthcare.gov.

Contact: Randy Rodgers
(434) 817-5239
rrodgers@jabacares.org

#OAM2020: How are you Making Your Mark?

JABA wants to hear from you!

The Older American’s Month theme this year is ‘Make Your Mark.’ How are you making your mark during this time? How are you coping? What special challenges has the pandemic created for you? What kind of support do you need? How are you reaching out to others? We want to hear your stories and post them below and on social media! [We will include your name or you can choose to share your story anonymously. Just let us know.] Feel free to send an email to dmcnair@jabacares.org.

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JABA Volunteers: a message from JABA CEO, Marta Keane

The theme of May’s Older Americans’ Month is ‘Make Your Mark.’ To me, you have done just that! Each of you have made your mark:

A FISH volunteer, mentoring students, supporting teachers, to help each child achieve their potential

An Insurance Counseling volunteer, providing information and assistance for Getting Started in Medicare, Medicare Part D open enrollment, or Affordable Care Act enrollment

An Ombudsman volunteer, helping the most vulnerable advocate for what they need

A Community Center or Adult Care Center volunteer, bringing joy to the members through your talents- entertaining, pet therapy, flower arranging, teaching about new ideas and hobbies, setting up for lunch, and so many other examples

A Shining Star volunteer, adding activities to a full day of preschool programming

A data entry and office volunteer, expanding our capacity to serve more by providing the support of documenting what we are doing

A Neighbor to Neighbor volunteer, supporting your neighbors through friendship, empathy, and at times with practical needs

A Nutritional Delivery Driver volunteer, ensuring that our community has access to healthy food, even when home-bound.

A CDSME volunteer, leading health and wellness classes to promote independence and self-care

A JABA Board member or Advisory Council member or Committee member, providing your expertise to set the strategic path

Each of these efforts help to promote and preserve our mission. The number of volunteers and the number of hours is overwhelming. And the commitment of showing up week after week is admirable. We know we can count on you.

As we modify our operations to keep all of you and our members safe, it provides an opportunity to reflect on the many ways that you create a sustainable community for healthy aging, and the many ways that you benefit individuals and families of all ages. We look forward to welcoming you all back when we are able to return to gathering together, and being able to thank you in person. In the meantime, I would like to share my heartfelt appreciation for all you do!"

JABA, Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, collaborate to offer free life-planning services to JABA clients remotely

When the pandemic forced JABA to close its doors, our popular Wills for Seniors program had to be canceled. Eighty-one seniors had signed up for the March event, which provides in-person life planning services with an attorney at no charge, including a simple will, durable power of attorney and an advance medical directive that make their healthcare wishes clear. At a time when these decisions are more important than ever, it was particularly difficult for us to cancel the program.  

However, thanks to the newly formed Central Virginia Advance Directives Collaborative, the Legal Aid Justice Center, JABA, and the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, those 81 seniors will get free life planning services after all.

"I reached out because my family is from Detroit and I was seeing firsthand the need for preparedness in this regard," says attorney Kristin Clarens with the Legal Aid Justice Center, who is also coordinator of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer Program. "Since we're several weeks behind the coronavirus epicenters in terms of crisis response, I hoped that by connecting CABA lawyers with vulnerable neighbors, we would be able to support and to reduce the stress of our neighbors in need in a really unstable and scary time."

JABA clients will work remotely with an attorney to develop a plan for these important documents.  

Indeed, even before the pandemic, JABA recognized that making important decisions about end of life not only impacts families, but also our entire communities, which is why we helped jump-start a community-wide conversation that has become the the Central Virginia Advance Directives Collaborative.

"The goals of the Collaborative is to have the majority of adults in Central Virginia file advance directives with their health care providers," says JABA CEO Marta Keane. "The peace of mind that comes with completing an Advance Directive and knowing that your family/ friend/ designee will be able to know and follow your wishes is huge.  And the comfort it gives the family to not make a decision in a vacuum. Everyone deserves to maintain their dignity until the end. The quality of life that we each wants includes the quality of the end of our life."

JABA hopes to continue its in-person Wills for Seniors program this fall. Learn more here: Wills for Seniors Program

JABA Wills for Seniors clients can contact Kristin Clarens at kclarens@justice4all.org, or at 434-249-6125. When you call, be sure to tell her you are a JABA client.

Charlottesville Area Community Partnerships Expand Reach to Seniors During COVID-19 Response

(CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—April 15, 2020)—The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and the Jefferson Area Board for the Aging (JABA) have enhanced their longtime partnership to continue nourishing the lives of JABA’s seniors, despite the temporary closure of JABA.

JABA began partnering with the Food Bank nearly three years ago to distribute Senior Food Boxes or Reach food bags to eligible seniors in need. JABA senior centers in Greene, Esmont, Charlottesville, Nelson, and Scottsville serve as distribution sites.

“When JABA closed its centers in response to Virginia’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order, Emily Foreman and I started brainstorming alternatives,” says Melissa Wender, partner services coordinator at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Emily Foreman manages senior nutrition programs at JABA. Other JABA managers also weighed in on possible ways to creatively meet food assistance needs while following protocols to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“We are grateful for the partnership with the Food Bank. During this unprecedented event, so many of those we serve are now more isolated and without access to proper nutritional supports and resources,” says Emily. “Once we got an idea of how these programs would move forward in this crisis, the Food Bank was right there ready to move forward alongside us.”

“We came up with different plans for each site,” Melissa adds.

In Nelson County: Transportation assistance donated by JAUNT helps the senior center with deliveries. They meet at the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry distribution in Arrington and load food boxes and food bags assembled for homebound seniors. A Jaunt driver then makes deliveries to identified areas of the county.

In Esmont: A similar plan involving JAUNT is under way to get food boxes to the homes of seniors in need.

In Scottsville: Seniors are picking up their boxes from, or sending a proxy to, the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry in Scottsville. They drive through, pop their trunk, and leave with a food box.

In Charlottesville and Greene County: JABA managers are delivering food boxes themselves.

“These food delivery alternatives and enhancements represent a coming together of dedicated community partners and friends to solve problems and exercise flexibility,” Melissa adds.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Abena Foreman-Trice
Media & Community Relations Manager

Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

540.213.8405

aforemantrice@brafb.org

About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank:

Founded in 1981, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is the largest organization alleviating hunger in western and central Virginia. Headquartered in Verona, VA, the Food Bank serves 25 counties and eight cities through distribution centers in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Winchester, and Verona. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank distributes nearly 26.4 million pounds of food annually to 103,500 people each month through a network of 205 community partners – food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, schools, churches, and other non-profit groups – and 175 program sites serving children, seniors, and families. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America, a national food bank association that supports 200 food banks across the United States. For more information, visit www.brafb.org.                                                                           

JABA Insurance Counseling: Lost your job? Lost your health insurance? Here are some affordable healthcare options

Remember, JABA Insurance Counselors are still available via phone or email to help you find affordable health insurance options if you've been laid off, furloughed, or have had a reduction in income. Call 434.817.5248 or email insurance@jabacares.org.

Lost Job-Based Health Insurance:

> Likely eligible to enroll in either the ACA Marketplace or Medicaid, including Expanded Medicaid, Virginia’s Health Coverage for Adults, effective 1/1/19..

> Family size & Annual gross income
determine which option applies and how much financial help you get.

> You have just 60 days to apply for ACA Marketplace insurance after employee insurance ends. You can apply anytime for Medicaid.

> Cheaper than COBRA for most families.

> Neither the ACA Marketplace nor Medicaid can reject you or charge you more if you have a pre-
existing health condition.

Lost Job, but had no health insurance:

> May be eligible for Medicaid, including Virginia’s new Medicaid Health Coverage for Adults.

> Depends on family size and monthly gross income.

Have ACA Insurance but Income Has Dropped Sharply:

> Update your Marketplace account; you probably qualify for significantly more financial help or, possibly, for Medicaid.

Learn more...

JABA looking for volunteers to connect with seniors virtually

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - With many celebrating the Easter holiday and spending next few weeks alone or without their families, it’s certainly not uncommon to feel a bit isolated.

That’s why the Jefferson Area Board for Aging is looking for virtual volunteers to help seniors feel more connected.

“They love it because it’s not just about being entertaining. It’s a piece of it, but the majority of it is being connected to the community," Volunteer Services Coordinator Winter Broadhurst said.

Whether it’s teaching skills, giving music lessons, or just telling jokes, Broadhurst said even the smallest interaction can make a difference.

“It’s having someone who cares about you and cares that you’re isolated right now you’re not able to see people,” Broadhurst said. "They say, ‘hey, if I can play the piano for a little bit and bring a smile to your face then it’s worth it for me.’”

JABA is also sending out activity kits and making plenty of phone calls to check in on people. They’re also hoping to launch a new pen pal program in the near future. Read/Watch