Integrating Basic Food into Health Care Outreach:

1) What challenges have you experienced keeping Basic Food relevant for clients during open enrollment for health insurance?

Challenges:

  • time limits, confusion on client's part, different eligibility for both programs
  • slow application process
  • CSC too busy
  • confusion about what can be done through DSHS
  • Basic Food in 'background' because we're focused on enrolling them in health care
  • error codes and general difficulty with Health Plan Finder

2) What roadblocks have you faced when clients are applying to both Basic Food and health care, but through different portals (WaConn vs. Healthplan Finder) What strategies do you use to keep the process streamlined for clients applying for Basic Food and Health Insurance?

Challenges:-

  • going through the Healthplan Finder takes more time and needs more information
  • DSHS/HPF notices not streamlined (ie AHK renewal notices from DSHS)
  • language of insurance
  • navigating the redirect of clients through WaConn vs. Apple Health
  • system communications
  • data match
  • porting from HPF to WaConn
  • household compostition
  • DV issues with Healthplan Finder
  • terminology for explanation can get tricky, especially for those that have never had insurance.

Strategies:

  • use Basic Food app as intake for HPF, do initial high level screening for both programs
  • in house data tracking
  • invoices
  • inform clients that food application will take 15 min and health insurance will take longer
  • fax the Basic Food application
  • encourage clients to access the portal on their own
  • do the Basic Food app first then health app or make an appt to complete app later
  • advise clients that once one application is done the next will/shoudl be much quicker

3) In what ways has it been difficult to weave conversations about Basic Food into health care? Describe tactics and wording you use to motivate clients to apply for Basic Food and health care (if eligible)?

Challenges:

  • different income brackets

Strategies:

  • Use new health insurance options act as a lure to apply for more programs (like Basic Food)
  • Place emphasis on how important nutrition is and explaining its ties to public assistance