Minnesota Care is a state-subsidized health care program for people who live in Minnesota and don't have health insurance. Under and uninsured persons are at risk for chronic disease and disabling conditions, which are costly to manage. This project applied the core public health function of assurance to increase access to Minnesota Care, a health care program for the under and uninsured living in Minnesota (i.e. 1 of every 11 people). Nobles Rock Public Health Agency Nurses, Southwest Minnesota Consortium, Minnesota Department of Human Services and public health nursing students from South Dakota State University collaborated on the project. Several social marketing strategies were utilized to reach the under and uninsured in two counties. The project activities included networking with the Southwest Minnesota Consortium (Southwest Regional Development Commission, Public Health Nursing and Western Community Action, Inc.) to access materials and resources for social marketing, contacting local employers for permission to provide brochures to place in paychecks, passing out bulletin stuffers in churches and attendance at a county-wide food festival to distribute applications for the program. The nursing students collaborated with primary and secondary teachers from area school districts who accepted applications to provide to school counselors and other school staff. The impact of this project was a 30% increase in inquiries for applications for Minnesota Care.
Learning Objectives: 1. Create awareness of the Minnesota Care health insurance program for potential clients. 2. Apply strategies to decrease uninsured and underinsured families in Nobles and Rock Counties in Southwestern Minnesota. 3. Teach nursing students the value of social marketing as a public health nursing intervention.
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Access
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.