This report looks in detail at the health insurance experiences of LGBT people with incomes less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) in 2014, the first year after the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage expansion began with the start of open enrollment through the health insurance marketplaces in October 2013. Overall, the survey findings show that LGBT people in this income range have had enormous success in gaining access to new coverage options under the ACA. They also indicate, however, lingering issues that must be priorities for policy and advocacy activities in the 2014 open enrollment period and beyond, including:
- Enforcing LGBT nondiscrimination in access to insurance coverage
- Ensuring quality and comprehensiveness of coverage, especially for transgender people
- Raising awareness of the health reform law in LGBT communities
- Requiring LGBT inclusion in consumer outreach and education activities
- Providing regular LGBT cultural competency training for navigators and other enrollment assisters
- Collecting voluntary LGBT data collection in enrollment
- Strengthening the link between coverage and culturally appropriate care for LGBT people
Population of focus: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with incomes less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level in 2014
Links to resource:
- Full report — Moving the Needle, The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on LGBT Communities (pdf)
- Report introduction and summary (pdf)
- News article about the report
Date: 2014
Organization: Center for American Progress