University of South Florida awarded $5.9 million for Obamacare outreach

Sun-Sentinel
September 3, 2015

The University of South Florida’s non-profit Florida Covering Kids & Families program has been awarded $5.9 million in federal funds to continue its Affordable Care Act outreach and enrollment efforts for 2016 health insurance plans, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services announced.

The program, part of the Tampa-based university’s College of Public Health, works with health providers throughout the state to educate uninsured minorities, immigrants, non-English speakers, people with HIV and AIDS, individuals with disabilities and other at-risk communities about how to enroll and re-enroll in the health insurance program popularly known as Obamacare, and how to use plan benefits.

The USF program oversaw outreach efforts statewide in 2015 and in all counties except Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe in 2014. About 1.6 million Florida residents signed up for health insurance over the first two enrollment years.

Other organizations awarded grants for 2016 include Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, $1.8 million, for outreach in 35 counties, including Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade. Two non-profits were awarded grants for outreach in Miami-Dade: The National Alliance for Hispanic Health ($256,352) and Jackson Health System ($309,900).

Enrollment for 2016 plans runs Nov. 1 to Jan. 31.