By: Ben Wakana, National Press Secretary, and Jonathan Gold, Regional Press Secretary
When Secretary Burwell travels around the country, she hears from people whose lives have been touched by their ability to get health insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. And her visits help shine a spotlight on the work that community leaders and local officials are doing to connect their neighbors and families to quality, affordable health coverage.
This Open Enrollment, Secretary Burwell will once again be traveling the country to spread the word, and we’ll be with her. On this blog, we’ll be recounting her travels, as well as sharing the events, progress, and compelling stories we see and hear along the way. Check back here for updates and photos to keep up with our team. We also encourage you to follow the Secretary on Twitter for real-time updates on her work and travel: @SecBurwell.
We are looking forward to continuing to meet more people and hear stories about how the Affordable Care Act is making a difference in people’s lives every day.
Dallas & San Antonio (01/29/2016)
The final push for 2016 Open Enrollment brought Secretary Burwell to Dallas on Friday morning, where she started her day with a radio interview with Dallas-based R&B and Hip-Hop stations, the Beat 97.9 and Boom 94.5, emphasizing how Texans could get enrolled and the importance of coverage.
Then it was on to Salon Artist, a trendy hair salon, where owner Cherian Davis shared how she has been covered by a Marketplace plan for two years. While at the salon, the Secretary renewed her acquaintance with the Delta Alumni Chapter president, Tonya Derrick, who came to get her hair done then and give a Deltas/ACA t-shirt to the Secretary.
Dallas Blogger Matt Houston, who’s been covered for three years through the Marketplace, asked the Secretary what HHS is doing to reach people like him — young and tech savvy. The Secretary mentioned efforts to reach young people through mobile platforms and social media, along with talking to a lot of DJs and reaching out to people where they are easily reached. She said HHS wants feedback on how to make the process easier for people.
The final stop in Dallas was an enrollment event hosted by the Community Council of Greater Dallas. She was joined there by U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Dallas Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins and Mayor Pro Tem Mónica R. Alonzo. At the event, they met and spoke with people who were signing up for coverage and the navigators helping them to find the best options for themselves and their families.
Following Dallas, Secretary Burwell spent the afternoon in San Antonio, where she visited Southwest General Hospital during an enrollment event. She was joined by hospital CEO Craig Desmond and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and spoke with consumers, navigators and brokers.
Magdalena Miranda, a San Antonio resident, told the Secretary how she had lost her health care coverage when she lost her job, but was able to find affordable coverage through the Marketplace. Magdalena now works to share her story with others in hopes it will encourage as many people as possible to sign up for coverage themselves.
Indianapolis (01/15/2016)
Like her fellow Cabinet colleagues fanning out across the country to highlight their Departments’ work, Secretary Burwell visited Indianapolis Friday to talk about Open Enrollment for affordable, quality health insurance through the Marketplace.
Her visit to the 2–1–1 Call Center at United Way of Indiana came on the last day that people could enroll in coverage that’s effective February 1 and a little more than two weeks before the final January 31 deadline to enroll for 2016 Marketplace coverage.
She was joined by U.S. Rep. André Carson and Lucinda Nord, vice president of the Indiana Association of United Ways at the Call Center and spoke with specialists making appointments for Hoosiers to enroll in coverage.
Secretary Burwell also participated in a roundtable discussion with eight Indiana residents who told their stories of how the Affordable Care Act has affected their lives and what having Marketplace coverage has meant to them.
For instance, Sandy McDonald told how she lost her insurance when she lost her job, but she has since gotten coverage through the Marketplace, with her premium dropping to $80 a month after tax credits for 2016.
Rev. Kevin Rose explained how when his church couldn’t afford to pay for health insurance, he found coverage through the Marketplace for $75 a month after the tax credit. And 22-year-old Linzy Carothers said she’s been able to remain covered by her parents’ plan until she turns 26 because of the Affordable Care Act.
Following the roundtable, Secretary Burwell spoke to members of the media about the important stories she had heard that day before returning to the Capital.
Orlando (01/11/2016)
Kicking off her visit to Orlando, Secretary Burwell appeared live on NBC/CW Orlando and Fox Orlando to talk about HHS and stakeholder efforts to help Floridians know about their options to get 2016 health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. She also sat down for an interview with Naseem Miller of the Orlando Sentinel about enrollment efforts and potential Medicaid expansion.
She toured a 2–1–1 Call Center at Heart of Florida United Way that is helping people with questions about getting insured before the January 31 deadline for 2016 coverage.
At the enrollment event, the Secretary met Maria Diaz of Windermere, near Orlando. When Maria lost her job, she lost her health insurance. When the Marketplace opened for business, Maria said that with the help of a navigator, she was able to get insurance for herself and her son for a fraction of the cost of coverage she had bought in the private market.
And what would a visit to Orlando be without a stop at Chef Eddie’s, a popular soul food restaurant in downtown.
Tampa (01/10/2016)
Rev. Larry Roundtree and the New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church welcomed Secretary Burwell to the pulpit at their Sunday service as she started off her visit to Tampa, one of the 20 communities competing in the Healthy Communities Challenge. She was joined at the service and a visit afterward to the church’s Marketplace Open Enrollment event by Rep. Kathy Castor and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
After the service, she also had the chance to talk with Dr. Cosette Whitmore, a health care advocate for the National Baptist Convention about how better to reach out to uninsured parishioners.
Mariafernanda Davila, a 24-year-old who works two jobs, told the Secretary how she initially didn’t think she could afford coverage, but with the help of a navigator she found a quality plan for a premium of only $48 after the tax credit. She now wants other healthy, young people to know how affordable coverage can be and how important it is to have it just in case of illness or an accident.
Later in the day, there was good food and conversation with our #GetCoveredTampa partners at a roundtable hosted by Cask Social, a popular Tampa eatery.
San Antonio (12/14/2015)
Secretary Burwell visited the Lone Star state on Sunday. First stop: San Antonio. She began the day with a live interview with anchor Jessica Headley of Fox San Antonio morning news, where she talked about the deadline and resources available to consumers.
Her second interview of day was with Univision San Antonio, where she talked about the important issues facing the Hispanic community, like the resources in place to assist with getting enrolled, financial assistance, chronic health conditions prevalent among Hispanics, and the importance of preventive services.
Secretary Burwell then had breakfast at San Antonio landmark Mi Tierra, where she was joined by stakeholders and community leaders to discuss the progress of the Affordable Care Act and the work ahead.
The Secretary stopped by a local H-E-B grocery store, where she highlighted H-E-B’s efforts in the community to get their customers enrolled in affordable coverage. The Secretary was joined by Rep. Lloyd Doggett on a tour of the store, where she greeted staff and enrollment assisters.
Austin (12/13/2015)
Austin’s vibrant music scene was already tuned up during the Secretary’s visit to an enrollment site run by Community Foundations. Upstairs, the center hosts the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians, or HAAM, whose enrollment operation is geared specially toward Austin musicians. HAAM asked the Secretary to sign a guitar which also has been signed by musicians who enrolled in coverage.
While greeting consumers and thanking volunteers, the Secretary met Austin musician John Pointer, who told her of his difficulties finding coverage before the Affordable Care Act, because of his type 1 diabetes. Then he got help from HAAM and the Health Insurance Marketplace. He was at the center to re-enroll the day the Secretary visited, which he said was very easy to do. He told TWC Austin: “It makes a very complex and probably scary thing for many people into a very easy and not frightening process.”
Watch the video: Sec. Burwell Visits Austin to Push Healthcare Sign Up.
Charlotte (12/11/2015)
It’s time to #GetCoveredCharlotte! Secretary Burwell began a busy weekend of promoting Open Enrollment with a stop in Charlotte, one of the 20 communities participating in the Healthy Communities Challenge.
She spent much of the day with popular Charlotte radio personality “No Limit Larry,” kicking off the day with him and Ms. Jessica at Power 98 FM for a radio interview and conversation. She even did “the dab.”
After visiting Power 98 FM, it was off to Headlines Barbershop, where the Secretary talked with barbers and customers about the importance of signing up for health insurance. She told Derrick Bennett, who owns the shop with his wife, Season, that uninsured people appreciate hearing about the Marketplace from the folks they know and trust. “You’re the trusted voices.” One of the North Carolinians at the barbershop was Manuel Jones, a self-employed truck driver, who initially signed up last year at Headlines, where he’s been going for years for his haircut.
Secretary Burwell later met with enrollment assisters at Legal Services of Southern Piedmont.
You can relive the Secretary’s visit to Charlotte in this video!
Miami (11/18/2015)
Secretary Burwell kicked off the day early by talking to WIOD AM about Miami residents’ options to get covered for 2016. It’s a fact that more than 7 out of 10 people can get covered for 2016 for $75 or less in monthly premiums after tax credits.
After her interview, the Secretary made her first stop of the day at Jackson Soul Food, a Miami staple that has been serving the local community for near 70 years. The food was tempting, but she talked to local residents there about their options to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace and then sat down with Andrea Robinson of The Miami Times before it was onto stop #2.
At Miami Dade College, her second stop, the Secretary was greeted by Miami Dade President Eduardo Padron before heading inside to observe the on-campus Open Enrollment assistance center helping Miami residents get covered. She also met Joe Pena of Miami Dade College, Cristina Tuero of the Health Council of South Florida and Jimmy Tan of Enroll America.
The #GetCovered efforts at Miami Dade wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Enroll America, the Epilepsy Foundation and the Health Council of South Florida.
After a great roundtable discussion with our Miami partners and news conference with Miami-Dade County Deputy Mayor Russell Benford and Shirlene Ingraham, owner of Jackson Soul Food, who told her story about health coverage for her family and diners, it was back to D.C.
Atlanta (11/13/2015)
Atlanta was no day at the spa, even though Secretary Burwell spent part of Friday morning at the IWI Fresh Garden Day Spa in Atlanta. Joined by Ryan Cameron, the popular host of V-103’s “Ryan Cameron Morning,” and spa owners Yolanda Owens and Charles Nowell, the Secretary talked to and heard from residents of Atlanta about enrolling in Health Insurance Marketplace health coverage. As she walked around the spa, she told employees and customers about the affordability, quality and accessibility of health insurance plans through the Marketplace.
Atlanta is one of 20 communities across the country taking part in the Health Communities Challenge. The victorious community gets bragging rights, a healthier community and a visit from President Obama to celebrate their success. You can follow the conversation in Atlanta using#GetCoveredAtlanta.
With Ryan by her side, Secretary Burwell then visited the SRA Enrollment Assistance Center where assisters were enrolling consumers at their work stations.
Then on to lunch and a roundtable discussion on Open Enrollment at Manuel’s Tavern.
Among the community leaders who she met with on Friday were Fulton County Chairman John Eaves and Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams.
Secretary Burwell closed out the day with a non-Open Enrollment event: She spoke to the Ebola response team staff at CDC and thanked them for their efforts to fight the deadly outbreak.
Philadelphia and Jersey City (11/6/2015)
Secretary Burwell hit the road again to close out the first week of Open Enrollment. This time, the Secretary visited Philadelphia and Jersey City, New Jersey, both cities that have a large population of uninsured residents who are eligible for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. During her visit on Friday, November 6, the Secretary met with health care professionals, community leaders, lawmakers and people whose lives have been changed by being able to enroll in affordable, quality health coverage.
In the City of Brotherly (and sisterly) Love, Secretary Burwell toured Health Center #10, where she met enrollment assisters helping local residents enroll in coverage. She was joined by Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, Councilman Bobby Henon, Philly Health Commissioner James Buehler and Joan Bland, Director of the center.
Secretary Burwell also visited with Anne Ha, a young woman who has talked about her experience in getting insurance after being pushed by her mother to do so. It’s true, mom knows best.
Shortly after getting coverage, Anne learned she had early stage stomach cancer. After aggressive treatment, Anne is doing great — and got married in September.
Later in the day, the Secretary traveled east to Jersey City, where she participated in a roundtable and heard from Jesicca Fernandez of North Arlington (N.J. not Virginia!) about how she and her husband, an independent truck driver, did not have coverage for more than four years because they couldn’t afford it.
After finally getting coverage through the Marketplace, Jesicca was able to get a checkup and is now getting treatment for her newly diagnosed Crohn’s disease.
Secretary Burwell also toured the Metropolitan Family Health Center and heard about the area’s health coverage needs from CEO Joan Dublin, Rep. Frank Pallone and Rep. Donald Payne, stakeholder groups and HHS Region 2 Director Jackie Cornell-Bechelli.
Dallas and Houston (10/28/2015)
On October 27 and 28, Secretary Burwell visited the Lone Star state. It was a busy couple of days in Texas. In Dallas, she met Sean Hubbard, whose infant son faces multiple surgeries for a heart defect and cleft palate. He said his family’s plan has already paid nearly $3 million for his son’s care. Sean told Secretary Burwell that without his Marketplace policy “we would be bankrupt. … I guess you could say the Affordable Care Act is saving my son’s life and saving my family’s future.”
During a roundtable discussion, the Secretary also heard what our partners in Dallas are doing to reach out to uninsured Texans and she met with Parkland Hospital CEO Fred Cerise, Dallas Mayor Pro-Tem Monica Alonzo and others. She also took part in a roundtable with Delta Sigma Theta’s Dallas chapter, whose support she said is critical to efforts to reach the uninsured with enrollment information.
On day two of her trip, the Secretary visited Houston where she met Carl Anderson. Carl is HIV+ but couldn’t afford his 30-day supply of pills that cost $1,500, so he started gambling with his life by rationing his medication. He now has insurance he can afford and the cost of his pills under his plan dropped to $350. But in a stroke of good fortune, he now doesn’t have to pay for his pills for the next year because of a special coupon he received.
Secretary Burwell met with Harris Health System CEO George Masi and other Houston leaders who are helping Texans in Houston learn about their options for coverage through the Marketplace.
