Aca Deadline Looming, Volunteers Push to Enroll Young People

WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK." WELL, MAYBE YOU HAVE SEEN THE WELL, MAYBE YOU HAVE SEEN THE COMMERCIALS OR SOMEONE HAS COMMERCIALS OR SOMEONE HAS STOPPED BY YOUR HOUSE. STOPPED BY YOUR HOUSE. VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE MAKING A FINAL PUSH TO ARE MAKING A FINAL PUSH TO ENROLL PEOPLE IN THE AFFORDABLE ENROLL PEOPLE IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH EXCHANGES. CARE ACT HEALTH EXCHANGES. A MARCH 31st DEADLINE LASS A MARCH 31st DEADLINE LASS BEEN EXTENDED FOR PEOPLE WHO BEEN EXTENDED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO HAVE MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SIGN UP. SIGN UP. PEOPLE WILL NOW HAVE UNTIL ABOUT PEOPLE WILL NOW HAVE UNTIL ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF APRIL TO FILE AN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL TO FILE AN EXTENSION. EXTENSION. AS JASHIN LIN REPORTS, THE AS JASHIN LIN REPORTS, THE REALITY IS BEING TO SET IN FOR REALITY IS BEING TO SET IN FOR SOME HOOSIERS, GET INSURANCE OR SOME HOOSIERS, GET INSURANCE OR BE PREPARED TO FACE FINDS. BE PREPARED TO FACE FINDS. >> CHARLIE SCHLEICHER IS THE >> CHARLIE SCHLEICHER IS THE ONLY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT ONLY FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE AT SPAAH, A DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON SPAAH, A DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON PURVEYOR OF MANICURES, PEDICURES PURVEYOR OF MANICURES, PEDICURES AN FACIALS. AN FACIALS. THEY PROMOTED HIM FROM PART TIME THEY PROMOTED HIM FROM PART TIME A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WHICH A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WHICH MEANT MORE PAY, MORE HOURS BUT MEANT MORE PAY, MORE HOURS BUT NO HEALTH BENEFITS. NO HEALTH BENEFITS. >> WE AT ONE POINT MET WITH A >> WE AT ONE POINT MET WITH A HEALTH INSURANCE AGO AND IT WAS HEALTH INSURANCE AGO AND IT WAS JUST SORT OF OVERWHELMING AND JUST SORT OF OVERWHELMING AND NOT VERY CLEAR AND VERY NOT VERY CLEAR AND VERY EXPENSIVE. EXPENSIVE. >> ENTER THE AFFORDABLE CARE >> ENTER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. ACT. ONA DONNA LAFFERTY THOUGHT IT ONA DONNA LAFFERTY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE ANSWER. WOULD BE THE ANSWER. >> WE SAID, HEY, CHARLIE, THIS >> WE SAID, HEY, CHARLIE, THIS IS GREAT. IS GREAT. WHY DON'T YOU CHECK THIS PLAN WHY DON'T YOU CHECK THIS PLAN OUT? OUT? HE DID. HE DID. >> THE SOLUTION IS SCHLEICHER >> THE SOLUTION IS SCHLEICHER SIGNS UP FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN SIGNS UP FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN ON THE FEDERAL HEALTHCARE ON THE FEDERAL HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE, AND THE SPA REIMBURSES EXCHANGE, AND THE SPA REIMBURSES HER FOR IT. HER FOR IT. >> BECAUSE SHE'S WONDERFUL AND >> BECAUSE SHE'S WONDERFUL AND WE WANT TO KEEP HER AND WE WANT WE WANT TO KEEP HER AND WE WANT TO MAKE HER HAPPY AND IT'S TO MAKE HER HAPPY AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT SHE NOT RISK IMPORTANT THAT SHE NOT RISK EVERYTHING IF SHE GETS SICK OR EVERYTHING IF SHE GETS SICK OR SOMETHING. SOMETHING. YOU KNOW, IF GOD BID SOMETHING YOU KNOW, IF GOD BID SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, NO WERE TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, NO HEALTH INSURANCE AT ALL, YOU HEALTH INSURANCE AT ALL, YOU KNOW, HOW DOES SHE PAY FOR HER KNOW, HOW DOES SHE PAY FOR HER HOSPITALIZATION? HOSPITALIZATION? HOW DOES SHE PAY FOR DOCTOR'S HOW DOES SHE PAY FOR DOCTOR'S VISITS? VISITS? >> THE LAFFERTYS ARE SHELLING >> THE LAFFERTYS ARE SHELLING OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH OUT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS A MONTH AND THEY ARE DOING IT OUT OF THE AND THEY ARE DOING IT OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF THEIR HEARTS. GOODNESS OF THEIR HEARTS. THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM HAVING TO THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM HAVING TO PAY HEALTHCARE FOR THEIR PAY HEALTHCARE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYEE. SOME EXPECT TO SEE MORE CREATIVE SOME EXPECT TO SEE MORE CREATIVE ARRANGEMENTS LIKE THIS AMONG ARRANGEMENTS LIKE THIS AMONG SMALL BUSINESSES. SMALL BUSINESSES. >> TO SMALL EMPLOYERS WHO ARE >> TO SMALL EMPLOYERS WHO ARE NOW HAVING PROBLEM PROVIDING NOW HAVING PROBLEM PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY NOW HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY NOW HAVE ALTERNATIVE SERVICES AND THEY ALTERNATIVE SERVICES AND THEY COULD PAY THEM MORE. COULD PAY THEM MORE. >> SCHLEICHER REPRESENTS THE >> SCHLEICHER REPRESENTS THE COVETED DEMOGRAPHIC, YOUNG AND COVETED DEMOGRAPHIC, YOUNG AND HEALTHY. HEALTHY. THE THINKING IS THAT THE COLLEGE THE THINKING IS THAT THE COLLEGE STUDENTS WILL HELP TO STABILIZE STUDENTS WILL HELP TO STABILIZE THE RISK POOL AND UNABLE THE RISK POOL AND UNABLE INSURERS TO COVER HOLDER AND INSURERS TO COVER HOLDER AND MORE EXPENSIVE ADULTS FEWER MORE EXPENSIVE ADULTS FEWER YOUNGER HEALTHY ADULTS HAVE BEEN YOUNGER HEALTHY ADULTS HAVE BEEN SIGNING UP. SIGNING UP. ONLY 23% OF HOOSIERS WHO HAVE ONLY 23% OF HOOSIERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP FOR INSURANCE ARE SIGNED UP FOR INSURANCE ARE BETWEEN 18 AND 34 YEARS OLD. BETWEEN 18 AND 34 YEARS OLD. >> YOU GET THE ATUDE THAT PEOPLE >> YOU GET THE ATUDE THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK THEY NEED IT AND YOU DON'T THINK THEY NEED IT AND YOU TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND A THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY POSITIVE LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY POSITIVE ABOUT IT. ABOUT IT. THEY THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. THEY THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA. >> A KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION >> A KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION STUDY SOUNDED OPTIMISM. STUDY SOUNDED OPTIMISM. PREMIUM INCREASES OF 1 OR 2%, PREMIUM INCREASES OF 1 OR 2%, WELL OUTSIDE OF THE RISK FOR THE WELL OUTSIDE OF THE RISK FOR THE PREMIUM DEATH SPIRAL PREDICTED PREMIUM DEATH SPIRAL PREDICTED BY CRITICS. BY CRITICS. THE STUDY'S AUTHOR SAYS IT'S THE STUDY'S AUTHOR SAYS IT'S BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS ON YOUNG BECAUSE THE EMPHASIS ON YOUNG ADULTS IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN ON ADULTS IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN ON HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS OVERALL AND HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS OVERALL AND THERE ARE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES THERE ARE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES TO TAKE SOME OF THE STING OUT TO TAKE SOME OF THE STING OUT FOR INSURERS. FOR INSURERS. ALMOST 65,000 HOOSIERS HAVE ALMOST 65,000 HOOSIERS HAVE SIGNED UP IN INDIANA, OUT OF SIGNED UP IN INDIANA, OUT OF 145,000 WHO ARE ELIGIBLE. 145,000 WHO ARE ELIGIBLE. THE PENALTY FOR REMAINING THE PENALTY FOR REMAINING UNINSURED IS 1% OF YOUR INCOME UNINSURED IS 1% OF YOUR INCOME FOR $95. FOR $95. $95 IN ONE YEAR DOESN'T SOUND $95 IN ONE YEAR DOESN'T SOUND MUCH WHEN YOU CONSIDER PAYING MUCH WHEN YOU CONSIDER PAYING $4,500 OR MORE ON A HEALTHCARE $4,500 OR MORE ON A HEALTHCARE PLAN. PLAN. UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL UNINSURED INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% OF THEIR RESPONSIBLE FOR 100% OF THEIR MEDICAL COSTS. MEDICAL COSTS. >> WHEN THE EMPLOYER FINES START >> WHEN THE EMPLOYER FINES START BEING COLLECTED, YOU MAY SEE BEING COLLECTED, YOU MAY SEE MORE PEOPLE BEING INSURED MORE PEOPLE BEING INSURED COMPARED TO THOSE CURRENTLY COMPARED TO THOSE CURRENTLY BEING INSURED, COMING IN FROM BEING INSURED, COMING IN FROM OTHER SOURCES OF INSURANCE. OTHER SOURCES OF INSURANCE. >> SIMON SAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE >> SIMON SAYS AFTER THE DEADLINE PASSES, THE EMPHASIS WILL SHIFT PASSES, THE EMPHASIS WILL SHIFT TO DOCUMENTING THE EXPERIENCES TO DOCUMENTING THE EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WITH THE INDIVIDUAL OF PEOPLE WITH THE INDIVIDUAL PLANS. PLANS. IF THE EXPERIENCES ARE MOSTLY IF THE EXPERIENCES ARE MOSTLY POSITIVE, THEN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE POSITIVE, THEN MORE YOUNG PEOPLE MAY SIGN UP, BASED ON WHAT THEY MAY SIGN UP, BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE HEARING FROM FRIENDS AND ARE HEARING FROM FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS AND INSURERS WILL NEIGHBORS AND INSURERS WILL LOWER PREMIUMS FOR 2015 OR THE LOWER PREMIUMS FOR 2015 OR THE OPPOSITE COULD HAPPEN. OPPOSITE COULD HAPPEN. THE CONTEXT AROUND THE A.C.A. THE CONTEXT AROUND THE A.C.A. ENROLLMENT NUMBERS IN INDIANA IS ENROLLMENT NUMBERS IN INDIANA IS IMPORTANT. IMPORTANT. DAVID MYER JOINS US NOW. DAVID MYER JOINS US NOW. HE HEADS A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT HE HEADS A VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT HELPS TO EDUCATE FOLKS ON THE HELPS TO EDUCATE FOLKS ON THE EXCHANGES. EXCHANGES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU, JOE. >> THANK YOU, JOE. >> THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME >> THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONFUSION AND WHETHER IT'S THE CONFUSION AND WHETHER IT'S THE NAME OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR NAME OF AFFORDABLE CARE ACT OR OBAMACARE OR ALL THE POLITICS OBAMACARE OR ALL THE POLITICS THAT KIND OF GO INTO IT. THAT KIND OF GO INTO IT. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING WHEN YOU ARE WHAT ARE YOU SEEING WHEN YOU ARE TALKING WITH PEOPLE? TALKING WITH PEOPLE? WHAT'S THAT CONFUSION COMING WHAT'S THAT CONFUSION COMING FROM? FROM? >> WELL, I THINK THE OBAMACARE >> WELL, I THINK THE OBAMACARE TITLE HAS STUCK AS KIND OF A TITLE HAS STUCK AS KIND OF A POLITICAL TITLE FOR MANY OF THE POLITICAL TITLE FOR MANY OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THE FOLKS THAT ARE OPPOSED TO THE LAW, WHO PHILOSOPHICALLY LAW, WHO PHILOSOPHICALLY DISAGREE WITH IT. DISAGREE WITH IT. AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS, AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT IS, OF COURSE, THE SHORTER VERSION OF COURSE, THE SHORTER VERSION OF ITS ACTUAL NAME. OF ITS ACTUAL NAME. IT'S THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND IT'S THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THE CITY OFTEN -- WE OFTEN TALK THE CITY OFTEN -- WE OFTEN TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HEARING ABOUT ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT HEARING ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, AND THEN THEY MAY ACTUALLY GET UP THEN THEY MAY ACTUALLY GET UP AND WALK AWAY IF THEY -- WHEN AND WALK AWAY IF THEY -- WHEN THEY HEAR THAT IT'S THE SAME THEY HEAR THAT IT'S THE SAME THING AS OBAMACARE. THING AS OBAMACARE. SO IT'S VERY CONFUSING. SO IT'S VERY CONFUSING. SO WE TRY TO STAY OUT OF THE SO WE TRY TO STAY OUT OF THE POLITICS AND JUST TALK ABOUT HOW POLITICS AND JUST TALK ABOUT HOW 9 NEW LAW CAN HELP PEOPLE IN 9 NEW LAW CAN HELP PEOPLE IN THEIR SITUATION. THEIR SITUATION. >> AND YOU ARE STILL SEEING A >> AND YOU ARE STILL SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN FOR LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN FOR HELP? HELP? >> OH, YEAH. >> OH, YEAH. YEAH. YEAH. LOTS OF PEOPLE. LOTS OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS A YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IS A PROCRASTINATOR, SO THE LAST PROCRASTINATOR, SO THE LAST MINUTE -- I UNDERSTAND, YOU MINUTE -- I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY SIGNED KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY SIGNED UP 1 MILLION PEOPLE JUST IN THE UP 1 MILLION PEOPLE JUST IN THE LAST WEEK, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY LAST WEEK, AND I UNDERSTAND THEY ARE DOING MORE THAN 1 MILLION ARE DOING MORE THAN 1 MILLION WEBSITE HITS A DAY AND THEY ARE WEBSITE HITS A DAY AND THEY ARE AT PEAK VOLUMES ON THE 800 LINE AT PEAK VOLUMES ON THE 800 LINE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING UP BY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE SIGNING UP BY PHONE. PHONE. >> SURE. >> SURE. BUT IT STILL SEEMS LIKE OVERALL BUT IT STILL SEEMS LIKE OVERALL THOSE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS WILL BE THOSE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS WILL BE LOWER THAN PROJECTED. LOWER THAN PROJECTED. >> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE. >> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE. THEY MIGHT CATCH UP, BECAUSE THEY MIGHT CATCH UP, BECAUSE THEY ARE PRETTY CLOSE RIGHT NOW. THEY ARE PRETTY CLOSE RIGHT NOW. 6 MILLION WAS THE NUMBER THAT 6 MILLION WAS THE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE REACHED ABOUT 24 HOURS THEY HAVE REACHED ABOUT 24 HOURS AGO. AGO. AND THE ORIGINAL NUMBER WAS AND THE ORIGINAL NUMBER WAS 7 MILLION. 7 MILLION. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO KNOW SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO KNOW WITH THAT PARTIAL EXTENSION THAT WITH THAT PARTIAL EXTENSION THAT THEY HAVE, WHETHER THEY WILL THEY HAVE, WHETHER THEY WILL ACTUALLY HIT IT OR NOT. ACTUALLY HIT IT OR NOT. >> AND YEAR TWO WILL BE THE REAL >> AND YEAR TWO WILL BE THE REAL TEST BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE TEST BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE FINES COME AND SOME NONEMERGENCY FINES COME AND SOME NONEMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COULD BE MEDICAL SERVICES COULD BE DENIED. DENIED. >> THAT'S RIGHT. >> THAT'S RIGHT. ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC WE FACE IN TERMS OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF KIND OF UNDERSTANDING OF KIND OF CONSEQUENCES OF NOT OBTAINING CONSEQUENCES OF NOT OBTAINING INSURANCE COVERAGE IS THAT THE INSURANCE COVERAGE IS THAT THE PENALTY FOR NONINSURANCE, FOR PENALTY FOR NONINSURANCE, FOR NOT GETTING INSURANCE ISN'T FELT NOT GETTING INSURANCE ISN'T FELT UNTIL APRIL 15th OF 2015. UNTIL APRIL 15th OF 2015. AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER ENROLLMENT PERIOD THAT STARTS ENROLLMENT PERIOD THAT STARTS NOVEMBER 15th FOR THE 2015 NOVEMBER 15th FOR THE 2015 YEAR. YEAR. SO THERE WILL BE TWO ENROLLMENT SO THERE WILL BE TWO ENROLLMENT PERIODS, COME AND GONE BEFORE PERIODS, COME AND GONE BEFORE ANYBODY ACTUALLY FEELS THE ANYBODY ACTUALLY FEELS THE PENALTY. PENALTY. >> VERY INTERESTING. >> VERY INTERESTING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE