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NEW YORK — Drug chains are doing their part to help people with the Affordable Care Act’s second open enrollment, even as the Supreme Court hears a new challenge that could undermine the law.
The court agreed this month to rule on claims that the government should not be able to subsidize health plans for low-income people in the 36 states that have refused to set up online insurance exchanges.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest promised “a vigorous defense” of the statute, saying it has meant that “millions of Americans — in some cases for the very first time — have access to quality, affordable health insurance.” Oklahoma attorney general Scott Pruitt told The New York Times that the Obama administration “cannot ignore the plain language in a statute and rewrite laws with which they disagree.”
The case will probably be argued in February or March, with a decision coming in June, three years after the court ruled that the law was constitutional.
In the meantime, Rite Aid Corp. customers can access independent, licensed insurance agents for free consultations via a hotline. Independent, licensed insurance agents are available through a dedicated toll-free number to enroll customers and provide free consultations to answer questions on the statute.
The agents can help customers compare health plans based on individual needs, and advise them on Medicaid eligibility in applicable states. Customers can also enroll in a plan over the phone. All Rite Aid stores have brochures on the ACA, and information is also at riteaid.com/affordablecare.
“Providing customers with access to independent and licensed insurance agents reinforces our commitment to improving the health and wellness of our communities,” said executive vice president of pharmacy Robert Thompson. “We know that many of our customers will be looking for help as they search for the best health insurance solutions for themselves and their families, and our resources will help them make the right choices this enrollment period.”
CVS Health has a robust educational effort to increase its customers’ understanding of available insurance options. The company is partnering with numerous health insurers offering coverage to conduct educational events in stores. The outreach also comprises in-store brochures and online insurance information and tools at CVS.com/insurance.
Additionally, CVS is releasing data that provides an initial look at prescription drug utilization by patients newly insured under the ACA. The data examines enrollees and how they are using their coverage, offering insights for consumers, insurers and other stakeholders as they prepare for the current open enrollment period, which runs through February 15.
“Connecting our customers with informative and accessible resources about the health insurance options in their community aligns with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” said CVS/pharmacy president Helena Foulkes. “As part of that effort, we are making health insurance experts available at more than 4,600 events in CVS/pharmacy stores across the country to answer customers’ questions and help them understand if they are eligible for lower insurance costs through the marketplace.”
More than 800 of this year’s education opportunities will be Project Health events, which offer customers free screenings in selected CVS stores between November and February. The events will also give customers the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with insurance experts.
The in-store brochures will be in Spanish in selected locations. Online marketplace insurance information and tools will be available in Spanish at CVS.com/seguro.
A schedule of in-store marketplace information events with health plans is at CVS.com/MarketplaceEvents.
