Libraries Serve As Health Insurance Info Hubs

Libraries Serve As Health Insurance Info Hubs

WebMD News from Kaiser Health News: 2.13.2014 by Elana Gordon, WHYY

What can’t librarians do? Many are now becoming health insurance guides.

The buzz at the American Library Association's winter meeting recently wasn't just about the annual awards (a.k.a. the book award "super bowl"); the Affordable Care Act was also on the agenda. Libraries across the country have been trying to meet a growing demand for health insurance information.

At the Free Library of Philadelphia’s central branch, library coordinator Nani Manion has started running twice-weekly enrollment clinics in the technology lab. Manion is one of 33 librarians in the Philly system who have undergone a five-hour training session to become certified application counselors.

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At least through March, 12 library locations in Philadelphia are taking individual sign-up appointments or hosting these walk-in sessions. The library cites data estimating that 210,000 Philadelphia residents lack health insurance.

   Libraries As Key Sources For Health Information

Libraries have always been more than book lenders, providing services that include early childhood education, employment assistance and computer literacy skills. The economic downturn heightened the need for those services, and health information has long been in demand.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) estimates 28 million people sought health information from libraries in one year.

“So we know people are going to the library and we want to make sure librarians know about community resources and web sites that they need to give them accurate

information,” says Mamie Bittner, director of government affairs for IMLS, who was in Philadelphia for the conference.

As the Newbery and Caldecott awards excitement was going on, Bittner and a handful of other librarians from Texas to Idaho to Northeast Pennsylvania were brainstorming about ways to help their patrons navigate the process of signing up for health coverage.

Last summer, IMLS issued a $286,104 grant to craft webinars geared toward librarians. More than 1,000 have participated since that launched, Bittner said.  READ MORE !

Covered California hosts enrollment workshops at LA libraries

KPCC: 2.15.2014 by Alice Walton [Slideshow]

With a looming deadline to get signed up for health insurance, officials around Los Angeles County hosted a number of enrollment events to encourage more participation in the Covered California health exchange. Dozens lined up outside the Panorama City branch of the Los Angeles Public Library on Saturday to get help enrolling. It was one of many libraries throughout the county that has partnered with Covered California to host enrollment workshops. READ MORE !