Consumer Health Minute: Health Insurance Literacy

Posted by Carolyn Martin on October 8th, 2019 Posted in: Health Literacy, Health Observances, News from NNLM, News From NNLM PNR, Public Libraries, Training & Education
Tags: consumer health, health insurance, National Health Observances, public library, RML Rendezvous

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It is almost that time of year. Yes, it is time to sign up or renew our health insurance. Many of us have been receiving notices at work regarding the time to review our health insurance and other work benefits. Often we feel unsure of the information we are reviewing. We have an idea of what a deductible or copayment is but we might be uncertain of the difference between a HMO and a PPO.  Not understanding insurance can be costly whether it prevents consumers from using it or from not understanding its coverage.

We are offering a free webinar to help prepare libraries to assist their patrons with health insurance information as they sign up for a plan whether through work, private, or through the federal government. Your library may be one of the many who have received a mini grant from the Public Library Association (PLA) to help prepare them to provide information to their communities during the Healthcare Marketplace Open Enrollment which is from November 1 – December 15 for 2020. This webinar will help librarians address the unmet information needs that leave many unable to make appropriate health insurance choices. For those with lower levels of health insurance literacy, the ability to procure appropriate levels of health insurance coverage may be limited, which can have dire effects on individuals’ health statuses. Addressing this critical information need, Emily Vardell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University.

PNR Rendezvous session: “Health Insurance Literacy and How Librarians Can Help”

When: Wednesday, October 16 at 12:00 p.m Alaska | 1:00 p.m. PT | 2:00 p.m. MT (please adjust to your time zone)

How to attend: Registration is encouraged and to learn how to join is on the PNR Rendezvous webpage. The session will be recorded but attending live will allow for questions.

In addition the NNLM supports the PLA insurance enrollment project through the promotion of their posters highlighting the the Healthcare Marketplace enrollment. You may order these directly from the Community Engagement Network webpage.  Questions? Contact the NNLM GMR office at gmr-lib@uiowa.edu.