Innovative approaches to educating the 50+ on the affordable care act

AARP's ability to educate millions of consumers about the Affordable Care Act and provide resources and guidance through the health insurance Marketplace enrollment process is paramount to helping the 50+ make informed health decisions. Our research confirms that although awareness of the ACA has increased since the Supreme Court ruling, Americans still lack understanding of the details of the law and have overarching concerns about healthcare costs and coverage, and a need for a “just the facts” approach. AARP aims to raise awareness of new coverage options among the uninsured and bolster confidence in the ACA among the insured. AARP will create new and update existing best-in-class resources on ACA that will allow individuals to find answers to their questions, alleviate concerns, and clearly define the necessary steps in the Marketplace enrollment process. Our existing premier resource on the ACA, the Health Law Guide (http://healthlawguide.aarp.org), will be redesigned based on user research as the ACA continues to be implemented in 2013 and beyond. With an increasing number of older adults using the internet, using this digital platform to communicate with our members allows us to break away from over reliance on printed brochures, complementing our traditional health education tactics. The digital approach creates the opportunity for users to get just the information they need that fits their specific circumstances. Message testing confirms that the Guide's plain language approach of delivering the slice of timely information most relevant to the user's circumstances improves their understanding and favorable impression of the ACA.