Get Out and Vote

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For those who do not receive NAMI‘s Advocacy Update, here is their email dated 10/27/14 verbatim (just copied and pasted) just in time for the US elections, the Affordable Care Act’s HealthCare.gov open enrollment (11/15 – 2/15), and Medicare Part D open enrollment.

Make Your Vote Count Today’s candidates will become tomorrow’s elected officials, with the power to make important decisions. As voters concerned about mental health care, it is critical that you learn about issues, educate candidates about the importance of mental health, and use your vote to elect representatives that will help improve mental health care in this country. Ask the important questions. Know what your voting rights and options are. Educate the candidates that mental health is a priority. Tell your candidates that “Mental Health Care Gets My Vote!”

Health Coverage Open Enrollment Starts Nov. 15  

It’s that time again! Open enrollment for health coverage is Nov. 15 through Feb. 15, 2015. New affordable plans are available, so if you do not have insurance or you need to re-enroll check out HealthCare.gov to see your options.

Things to keep in mind when choosing your health plan. Make sure:

1. Your mental health provider is in your network.
2. Your mental health medications are covered by your plan.
3. That your plan is affordable, which can mean low co-pays, low co-insurance and low deductibles.

Learn more about the cross section of mental health care and the health insurance marketplace.

Bonus Read: Learn about how the Affordable Care Act is impacting the Criminal Justice System.

Medicare Part D 2015 Open Enrollment Has Begun  

Medicare Part D is a crucial program if you or a loved one is a Medicare recipient who takes medication to treat your mental illness. The new 2015 guide for Medicare Prescription Drug Annual Enrollment is now available from Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx). Compare plan choices and find the plan that best meets your prescription medication needs. All Part D plans are changing in 2015. Use the guide to get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Read the guide.

Find out if you need to make a change.

Use Medicare’s plan finder.

Enrollment for Medicare prescription drug coverage is open until Dec. 7, 2014.

Finding Ways to Help People Who Are Homeless

Reducing long-term homelessness is a priority for NAMI in our new strategic plan for 2015 through 2017. Homelessness among people with mental illness is a tragic outcome of a broken mental health system. Addressing the needs of long-term homeless individuals, many of whom live with serious mental illness and substance use disorders, requires blending mental health services with supportive housing. Two new reports have been released which provide information about emerging best practices for blending resources to address chronic homelessness.

You can help address chronic homelessness in your state by sharing these reports with the agencies responsible for Medicaid and housing in your state and urging them to implement the best practices highlighted in these reports.

Read the reports.

Bright Spot: NAMI Policy Team Takes on Twitter

Two NAMI Policy Team leaders have joined the Twitter-verse and are actively tweeting about #MentalHealth policy! Follow them at @NAMIPolicyWonk and @DarcyGrutt to stay up to date! Below are some tweets from the last week.

You can also follow NAMI on Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you for your advocacy!