Mayor Donna Deegan launches first city-wide health campaign: "Get Covered Jax"

Donna Deegan called on her experience as a breast cancer survivor and nonprofit leader in City Hall Thursday to announce a new resource center for residents without health insurance.

The program, called Get Covered Jax, provides links and answers for Duval County residents looking to register for health insurance with the Florida Health Insurance Marketplace.

Education is the one of the most important steps to helping residents find the care they need and stop using the emergency room as a primary care doctor, Deegan said.

‘I can tell you that after 20 years of holding the hands of breast cancer patients through a process that is often extraordinarily confusing to them, that having navigators to help you through that process can be as valuable as any money in your pocket,” Deegan said.

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Deegan promised to bring new public health initiatives during her campaign and promptly hired a chief health officer and director of health programs upon entering the office. The initiative announced Thursday, however, would be her first project on the subject.

Get Covered Jax acts as a resource hub for people to find answers on how they can register for heavily discounted health insurance rates before open enrollment closes Jan. 15, 2024.

About 10-13% of Jacksonville residents under 65 – about 120,000 people – remain uninsured, and the county ranks 46 of 67 counties in health outcomes, Sunil Joshi said. Joshi works as the city’s first chief health officer.

Health outcomes are primarily defined by social and economic factors, and Deegan said she hoped the information campaign could bring answers to some of the city’s most underserved areas.

The city plans to publicize the program through social media, news media interviews, local faith centers and fliers. Residents can visit the portal online through getcoveredjax.com.

Once people are signed up, Deegan said some of the navigators and insurance brokers will help schedule a first appointment and preventative services.

“No more is Jacksonville going to be a city that has the finest health care in the world but some of the poorest primary health outcomes,” Deegan said.

Michael Boylan, the District 6 council member, endorsed the plan at the press conference but also called on the mayor’s office to promote JaxCareConnect, a Duval County-specific resource that can connect uninsured residents to care through a system of partners.

Boylan helped lead a council special committee last year partially dedicated to expanding health care options for residents. The group finalized four recommendations, including one to develop a marketing campaign encouraging residents to find a “medical home.”

The mayor’s campaign fulfilled part of that goal, Boylan said.

“Today's announcement is an excellent example of our two bodies working together to address such a critical quality of life issue,” Boylan said.

Deegan will have health care legislation heading to City Council in the coming months to allocate the $3.5 million included in her first budget for one-year health initiatives. The legislation is currently being drafted, Deegan told reporters after the press conference, and will “be with council very shortly.”

For residents interested in enrolling in health insurance this year, here are some dates to remember:

Nov. 1: open enrollment begins

Dec. 15: the last day to enroll or change plans for coverage to begin Jan. 1, 2024

Jan. 1: the first day coverage begins for residents who enrolled before Dec. 15 and pay their first premium

Jan. 15: the last day of open enrollment for 2024

Feb. 1 the first day of coverage for residents who enrolled before Jan. 15

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Deegan promotes Get Covered Jax for uninsured Jacksonville residents