Duke Medicine Ads Inform About Healthcare.gov Insurance Changes

Duke Medicine is letting consumers in the greater Triangle know about some changes to plans being offered on the federal healthcare exchange through television and online advertising that starts the week of Oct. 26. The introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and establishment of the healthcare exchange at HealthCare.gov have begun to significantly change how some consumers access health insurance and the plans made available for them to purchase. To educate and inform consumers in the greater Triangle about some changes to plans being offered on the healthcare exchange, Duke Medicine is launching an advertising and information sharing effort. Duke employees and dependents who are covered by a Duke offered health insurance plan are not affected by the changes. Duke employee health plan options remain the same with open enrollment running from Oct. 26-Nov. 6.The goal of Duke Medicine’s effort is to encourage people – especially current Duke patients – buying a plan through the healthcare exchange at Healthcare.gov to look carefully and select a plan that covers Duke providers, services and facilities. It will also encourage consumers to get in the habit of checking their health plans each year to ensure their doctors are covered and that Duke is included in their plans.The Duke advertising and information sharing effort is in response to a recent trend that has health insurance providers increasingly offering plans with limited choices for healthcare providers compared to conventional plans. Leading up to this year’s health insurance enrollment on the healthcare exchange at HealthCare.gov, some plans were eliminated that had previously provided coverage for Duke physicians and Duke University Health System hospitals and care facilities.This rapidly shifting health insurance market means that people buying health plans from the healthcare exchange must carefully examine their plans for the coming year to understand whether they cover Duke physicians and hospitals.More information about Duke’s advertising and information sharing effort is available at planforduke.com.