Enrollment Eligibility Expanded to Higher Education, Non-profits and Private Sector

Faculty and staff at institutions of higher education, representatives of non-profit organizations and private sector professionals working in sustainability and environmental planning can now join state and local government employees in registering for and enrolling in the fall Delaware Climate Leadership Academy, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today.

Ninety state and local employees, representing 10 state agencies and five local governments, participated in the inaugural Delaware Climate Leadership Academy classes, which launched in April. Eligibility for participating in the Climate Leadership Academy has been expanded to include enrollment of non-government professionals. Curriculum is targeted toward experienced professionals with sustainability, environmental, engineering, planning, infrastructure, energy, health, agriculture, emergency management, facility and risk management backgrounds.

The Academy’s training curriculum helps participants learn how climate change is impacting the First State, how Delaware can best prepare for these challenges, and how the state can reduce emissions and improve resilience. “Every state agency, local government and business in our state is affected by climate change. Delaware’s Climate Leadership Academy has already helped a number of state and local governments prepare for climate change and begin to develop solutions,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Opening up the Academy to other professionals will further expand our abilities to identify and address the challenges of climate change across the state.”

The Academy, which is administered by DNREC in partnership with the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), provides training that teaches participants to integrate concepts of climate change mitigation and adaptation into their professional decision-making.

The virtual training includes instruction on:

• understanding climate science and assessing vulnerability;
• the basics of greenhouse gas accounting, reporting and disclosure;
• engaging organizational and community stakeholders to lead change;
• the economics of climate change and managing climate risk in your organization.

Delaware-specific sessions include training on:

• data on temperature, precipitation, extreme weather events and sea level rise trend projections in the First State;
• minimizing emissions and utilizing initiatives already in place to achieve reductions;
• maximizing resilience, with a focus on adapting to increasing temperatures, precipitation, flooding and sea level rise.

The live, online training is administered in both daytime and evening cohorts. There is no fee for the 40-hour, two-month training. However, participants outside of government pursuing ACCO’s Certified Climate Change Professional (CC-P) credential would be required to pay the CC-P application and exam fee. Those fees are waived for government employees.

The deadline to register is Oct. 24. For more information about the Academy and to register, visit de.gov/climateacademy.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

###

Free one-on-one counseling and information available to residents; Bureau earns federal grant

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB), a division of the Delaware Department of Insurance, is encouraging residents to get ready for Medicare Open Enrollment. DMAB, which provides free, one-on-one Medicare counseling, offers a myriad of virtual appointment options for residents, as well as video tutorials and other guides that can assist in beneficiaries’ preparation. DMAB has provided more than 3,000 counseling sessions so far this year, saving beneficiaries more than $372,438 in premiums through application help.

DMAB will engage in thousands of counseling sessions during Medicare Open Enrollment, which takes place October 15 through December 7. During this time, beneficiaries can make changes to their health and drug coverage and review existing coverage against other options. DMAB will offer virtual appointments throughout this period, available via Webex, Duo, and Microsoft Teams, as well as by phone. Residents are encouraged to register for a MyMedicare.gov account prior to their counseling session so that DMAB can generate personalized plan comparisons.

“Our DMAB team works to increase residents’ understanding of the complex Medicare system and can even help save you money. I encourage the community to reach out to our team for Medicare assistance and information,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro.

A Virtual Medicare Seminar, which DMAB began to offer in 2020, is available on-demand online, and educates participants on topics including Medicare benefits, supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug coverage and details on signing up. While specifically created for new or soon-to-be eligible beneficiaries, the informative series can be helpful for all Medicare participants.

“Many people have questions about Medicare and don’t know where to start, and COVID-19 has only increased the stress of choosing the right healthcare plans. We are here to help people in Delaware deal with the complex and often confusing health insurance system,” said DMAB Director Lakia Turner, “and, we’re more accessible than ever through our new virtual programs.”

As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, the Department of Insurance reminds residents to scrutinize any contact during the open enrollment period to ensure it is from a known, credible source. The most frequent fraudulent contact occurs by phone, but residents should review all communications carefully.

“If you are receiving contact regarding Medicare that you did not initiate, or contact not from one of your healthcare providers, it could be fraudulent,” said Commissioner Navarro. “Protect your Medicare Number like you do your Social Security number or bank account information, and never give it out to unknown or unexpected callers.”

DMAB has been awarded a Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) 2021 Grant from the federal government, which will provide the bureau $71,943. The annual MIPPA grant has and will assist the bureau’s outreach, education, and one-on-one beneficiary assistance programs over the next year by assisting those beneficiaries who are likely to be eligible for the Low-Income Subsidy program (also called “Extra Help”) or Medicare Savings Programs.

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau provides free one-on-one health insurance counseling for people eligible for Medicare. Residents can call DMAB at 1-(800) 336-9500 or (302) 674-7364 to set up a free, confidential session. Counselors can assist with Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance), long term care insurance, billing issues, prescription savings, and much more.

 View DMAB’s 2021 Open Enrollment Flyer

More ways to receive Medicare counseling and information as Open Enrollment approaches, Bureau earns federal grants to support efforts

When COVID-19 required cancellation of the Department of Insurance Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau series of statewide Welcome to Medicare in-person events, the team responded rapidly, engaging with residents in new ways and offering their free, one-on-one Medicare counseling remotely. The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) has provided more than 2,930 counseling sessions so far this year, saving beneficiaries more than $192,000 in premiums through application assistance.

“We are all facing new challenges due to COVID-19, and I’m proud that our DMAB team has found ways to communicate with Medicare beneficiaries and made Medicare education and empowerment more accessible despite the inability to offer in-person events,” said Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro.

DMAB will engage in thousands of counseling sessions in the coming months, as Medicare Open Enrollment takes place October 15 through December 7. During this time, beneficiaries can make changes to their health insurance coverage and review existing coverage against other options. DMAB will offer virtual Open Enrollment appointments throughout this period, available via Webex, Duo, and Skype, as well as by phone. Residents are encouraged to register for a MyMedicare.gov account prior to their counseling session so that DMAB can generate personalized plan comparisons.

“Many people have questions about Medicare and don’t know where to start, and COVID-19 has only increased the stress of choosing the right healthcare plans. We are here to help people in Delaware deal with the complex and often confusing health insurance system,” said DMAB Director Lakia Turner, “and, we’re more accessible than ever through our new virtual programs.”

DMAB began to offer virtual Welcome to Medicare seminars in May, engaging 150 residents. The Virtual Medicare Seminar, which is now available on-demand online, educates participants on topics including Medicare benefits, supplemental insurance policies, Medicare Advantage plans, prescription drug coverage and details on signing up.

As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches, the department reminds residents to assess any contact during the open enrollment period to ensure it is from a known, credible source. The most frequent fraudulent contact occurs by phone, but residents should review communications carefully.

“If you are receiving contact regarding Medicare that you did not initiate, or contact not from one of your healthcare providers, it could be fraudulent,” said Commissioner Navarro. “Protect your Medicare Number like you do your Social Security number or bank account information, and never give it out to unknown or unexpected callers.”

DMAB has been awarded two significant grants during 2020. The 2020 State Health Insurance Assistance Program Base Grant provides $234,293 in federal funds to DMAB. This is a five-year grant, with annually awards in April. It is a primary source of funding for marketing and outreach, counseling, developing and training the volunteer network, and other strategic efforts. The MIPPA 2020 Grant awarded the bureau $43,270, which has and will assist the bureau’s outreach, education, and one-on-one beneficiary assistance programs over the next year for those beneficiaries who are likely to be eligible for the Low-Income Subsidy program (also called “Extra Help”) or Medicare Savings Programs.

The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau provides free one-on-one health insurance counseling for people eligible for Medicare. Residents can call DMAB at 1-(800) 336-9500 or (302) 674-7364 to set up a free confidential session. Counselors can assist with Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance), long term care insurance, billing issues, prescription savings, and much more.

Governor John Carney published an op-ed about progress made in Delaware to get more Delawareans health insurance coverage, and reminds Delawareans the ACA health insurance marketplace enrollment period ends December 15. 

Ten years ago, before President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, it was legal for insurance companies to deny Delawareans health coverage because they had diabetes or another pre-existing condition.

Across our state, more than 11 percent of Delawareans went without insurance. They skipped preventive visits to their doctors. And they accepted that a health crisis could also mean losing all their savings, or worse.

In the years since, we have made substantial progress in reducing the number of uninsured Delawareans.

With federal assistance, we have expanded our Medicaid program to provide quality health insurance coverage for Delaware families who need it the most. And more than 22,000 Delawareans have signed up for a health plan under the ACA health insurance marketplace.

Since implementation of the ACA, we have nearly cut our uninsured population in half in Delaware. And here’s some good news this year: rates on the ACA health insurance marketplace are down almost 20 percent, which we hope will encourage more Delawareans to get covered.

This is because, working with the General Assembly, we passed House Bill 193 into law, creating a reinsurance program which helped drive down the cost of coverage on the ACA marketplace.

In addition, some people will qualify for premium assistance, making the plans even more affordable.

That’s a really big deal. And as we near this year’s deadline of open enrollment on the ACA health insurance marketplace, we want to make sure even more Delawareans get covered.

For Delawareans who don’t have coverage through their employers, and for those who already have insurance through the ACA marketplace, I want to remind you and urge you to shop and compare ACA marketplace plans.

If you don’t have coverage, you need to act quickly. Enrollment on the ACA marketplace is open through December 15. Visit ChooseHealthDE.com to review your options and enroll at healthcare.gov.

If you’re not sure if can afford coverage on the marketplace, Westside Family Healthcare has health care navigators to help walk you through your options, including whether you and your family are eligible for financial assistance.

To make an appointment with a marketplace navigator, call Westside Family Healthcare at 302-472-8655 in New Castle County or 302-678-2205 in Kent and Sussex counties. Or visit ChooseHealthDE.com.

We know that we still have a lot of hard work to make health care more affordable for Delawareans and Delaware families. That’s why – working with members of the General Assembly – we created the new reinsurance program.

And that’s why we are working with health care providers on an initiative to bring transparency to health care prices and give Delaware consumers more information when they are making decision on where to get care.

Our overall goals are to reduce health care costs costs, and improve affordability and health outcomes for Delawareans across our state.

Our overall goals are to reduce health care costs and to improve affordability and health outcomes for Delawareans across our state. To do this, we need to build on the foundation of the ACA until all Delawareans are able to get the quality health care they deserve.

John Carney is the 74th Governor of the State of Delaware.

DOVER, DE –Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart reminds consumers that the open enrollment period for health insurance plans offered in 2017 through Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace ends on January 31, 2017. If you want coverage to begin on January 1, you need to enroll in a plan by December 15.  Delaware residents who are looking for personal assistance with selecting a plan should visit www.choosehealthde.com to connect with health navigators who provide free support. Consumers can select or change plans on their own at www.healthcare.gov.

According to Healthcare.gov, if you had Marketplace health insurance in 2016, you can renew, change, or update your plan for 2017 through January 31, 2017: “Whether you intend to renew or change plans, you must update income and household information on your 2017 application to get the right amount of financial assistance. Your savings depend on your expected household income for the year. Over 8 in 10 people who apply are eligible to save, and most can find plans for between $50 and $100 per month (after accounting for their premium tax credit).”

There are always changes in costs, networks and other details of insurance plans from year to year. Don’t assume that just because a plan worked well for you in 2016 that it will also be the best, or most cost-effective plan, for 2017. All health insurance plans offered through the Marketplace cover the ten Essential Health Benefits, pre-existing conditions and preventive care services.

If you were enrolled in a Marketplace plan in 2016, the federal government reports that “by November 1, 2016, you should receive two letters: one from your current insurance company and one from the Marketplace. Together they explain: any changes in your coverage and financial help; and if you need to send the Marketplace any documents.”  In addition, some plans are being discontinued for plan year 2017.  It’s important that consumers who were enrolled in those plans choose a new plan for next year. If you don’t choose a new plan, you may be automatically enrolled, or “crosswalked,” into a similar plan. Once you’ve enrolled in a plan, check your mail for information from your insurance company. When a welcome packet arrives, be sure to read the information thoroughly and save everything in a secure place. It is very important that you pay your premium on time. If you fail to pay your monthly premiums, your insurance company can cancel your policy. If your policy is cancelled due to non-payment you will likely not qualify for any other coverage until January 1, 2018.

If you don’t have health insurance coverage in 2017 you will have to pay a federal fee at tax time.

After January 31, 2017, you won’t be eligible to enroll in a health insurance plan through the Marketplace for the rest of 2017 unless you qualify for a special enrollment period.

Ready to enroll? Consumers can find more details about the various plans and their related premiums and deductibles, as well as any potential premium subsidies they may be eligible for, at www.healthcare.gov.

Small businesses can apply for coverage for their employees any time, all year.

###