New national campaign aims to boost ACA awareness

Enroll America's Get Covered America campaign is aimed at educating the public about the Affordable Care Act and the health benefits options available to U.S. residents under the legislation.

The campaign was officially launched on Tuesday, 100 days before enrollment on benefits exchanges open. 

In a statement released by the organization, Anne Filipic, president of Enroll America, explained millions of uninsured Americans will be able to access affordable healthcare beginning next year, but many are still unaware of it. 

"And we know that if they don't know about it, they won't take advantage of it," Filipic said. "That's where Get Covered America comes in."

A poll taken in late April by the Kaiser Family Foundation found four in 10 people in the U.S. were still unaware the ACA had been fully implemented as law. Research conducted for Enroll America found that nearly 80 percent of the uninsured are unaware of their upcoming coverage options.

This week, Get Covered America is hosting more than 50 educational events in 18 states, including Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Enroll America intends to invest tens of millions of dollars into the campaign, spending a major sum on media advertising.

As more elements of healthcare reform come into play, it's a good idea for public employers to sure employees understand how and why their benefits may be altered and what their options are.