The uninsured in this rural, conservative county of 650 people are likely to remain that way. Here are five things to know about the factors contributing to Borden County’s low enrollment rate.
1. Strong opposition to the ACA. “Healthcare is fine if you can afford it,” Brenda Copeland, a middle-aged woman of Borden County told Politico. She has only had health insurance once in her life, and opted to pay the tax penalty for not obtaining coverage earlier this year instead of buying a plan. “I hope Obamacare goes down the toilet.”
Remedying that kind of hostility toward the ACA and making people understand they can afford subsidized health plans is among the biggest challenges the Obama administration faces as the third open enrollment period begins. Especially in Texas, which strongly opposes the ACA, the uninsured are staunchly opposed to the idea of the federal government mandating they purchase healthcare services.
2. Remote location. Another factor of the low adoption of ACA health plans in Borden County is its remoteness — some areas don’t even have running water or Internet access. It had one of the lowest rates of enrollments last year, along with Yakutat City and Borough in Alaska, according to the report.
3. Unawareness of premium tax credits. Outreach workers attempt to educate the uninsured about the financial assistance available to them. However, unawareness of such assistance remains a challenge across the country. According to Politico, a recent Robert Wood Johnson Foundation survey found 59 percent of uninsured people still lack knowledge about federal subsidies, even after two enrollment periods.
4. Lack of community support. In rural areas, trusted local institutions are critical for sharing information and providing people the necessary assistance to obtain coverage. However, some organizations in Borden County, such as churches, haven’t taken on that responsibility, according to the report.
5. Deep-rooted distrust of the federal government. Navigators and others tasked with assisting the uninsured purchase coverage attempt various approaches to educate people throughout west Texas, but the deeply ingrained ethos of shunning assistance and distrust in the federal government makes this an ongoing challenge.
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