According to the February Kaiser Health Policy News Index, more people last month followed news about the Affordable Care Act than the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Two of the most closely followed stories in February were around the announcement that some employers will have an extra year to comply with ACA’s insurance mandate, and the Congressional Budget Office report about ACA’s impact on employment.
This news came as a surprise to me, and I’m probably not the only one. Normally, you’d expect our sports-loving population to be completely fixated on the Games. However, it turns out we have more pressing issues on our minds.
Now, I know curling isn’t the world’s most riveting sport, but this report clearly indicates that many Americans are worried about ACA’s impact on their health care coverage and their livelihood. Although such interest and investment equal a huge communications opportunity for companies, Kaiser also finds that 64% of employees have heard nothing at all about the health care law from their employer over the past month.
Employers have an unprecedented opportunity to engage employees into taking an active role in understanding their coverage and managing their health. Under normal circumstances, you work very hard just to gain employees’ attention for a few weeks during open enrollment, but right now the ACA is holding everyone’s interest. Strike while the iron is hot, offering clear and simple information about health care reform and how it affects your company, employees and their families.
You have an audience that’s ready and willing to engage; it’s up to you to restart that conversation while employees are primed to participate. Do it quickly—before they get swept up in March Madness!