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On Monday, I noted that after NPR reporters NPR reporters Geoff Brumfiel and Daniel Wood updated their report on the partisan divide regarding COVID-19 vaccination and death rates to include my consultation regarding their analysis and methodology, I learned that they had disregarded my warning about using Johns Hopkins University data for Florida because JHU's data for Florida specifically was still reflecting data as of June 3rd:

As I had noted back in September:

MNsure Logo

via MNsure:

ST. PAUL, Minn.—Minnesotans looking for private health insurance coverage starting January 1, 2022, have one week left to enroll through MNsure, Minnesota’s health insurance marketplace.

If you’re currently uninsured, self-employed, or lack access to coverage through your employer, now is the time to visit MNsure.org and check your options. More than 170 health and dental plans are available for 2022 through MNsure, and every county in Minnesota has at least 19 separate health insurance plan options to choose from.

MNsure is your one-stop shop for finding the right health coverage that fits your needs, and it’s the only place where you can access benefits that can save you money. “Don’t assume you earn too much money to qualify for tax credits that lower the cost of your monthly premiums,” said MNsure CEO Nate Clark. “Federal assistance has expanded the benefits available through MNsure and more Minnesotans are eligible for savings in 2022 than ever before."

2022 ACA Open Enrollment

With the first official 2022 ACA Open Enrollment Period deadline approaching on December 15th, I've decided to something special this Sunday, December 12th: I'll be holding a Zoom "ACA 101" webinar at 6:00pm Eastern to go over the basics of the ACA along with answering questions about the ongoing Open Enrollment Period.

I'll spend around half an hour or so going over the history and basics of the ACA (including some of its major benefits as well as some of its shortcomings), plus the important improvements brought to the Affordable Care Act for 2022 thanks to the American Rescue Plan.

The rest of the time will be for Q&A and general discussion of how to take full advantage of getting the best possible value.

Covered California Logo

via Covered California:

  • The virtual tour will reach into media markets across California to promote open enrollment and the increased financial help that is now available, which is lowering the cost of coverage for more people than ever before.
  • An estimated 1.1 million Californians are uninsured and eligible for financial help, including 83,000 in San Diego County, with the vast majority able to get coverage at no cost through either Covered California or Medi-Cal.
  • New data from Covered California shows how much protection and peace of mind insurance provides, with the uninsured facing staggering out-of-pocket costs if they visit an emergency room or are admitted into a hospital.
  • People who want their coverage to start on Jan. 1, 2022, must sign up by Dec. 31, 2021. Covered California’s open-enrollment period runs through Jan. 31, 2022.
New York State of Health

via NY State of Health:

  • Consumers Must Renew or Enroll by December 15 for January 1 Coverage
  • Expanded Tax Credits and Financial Assistance Available for 2022 Plans
  • Customer Service Hours Extended to Help New Yorkers Enroll

ALBANY, N.Y. (December 7, 2021) - NY State of Health, the state’s official health plan Marketplace, today announced that the deadline is fast approaching for New Yorkers who want coverage in a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) by the start of the 2022 New Year. Consumers must renew or enroll in a health plan through NY State of Health by December 15, 2021, for coverage starting January 1, 2022. The Open Enrollment Period for QHPs started November 16 and will run until January 31, 2022.

COVID-19 Vaccine

Methodology reminders:

  • I go by FULLY vaccinated residents only (defined as 2 doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine).
  • I base my percentages on the total population, as opposed to adults only or those over 11 years old (or even over 4 years old).
COVID

Here's the weekly look at the rate of COVID-19 cases & deaths at the county level since the end of June, broken out by partisan lean (i.e, what percent of the vote Donald Trump received in 2020).

The ratio of case rates has started to drop; new cases are now running 2.67x higher per capita in the reddest tenth of the country than the bluest tenth, down from 3.0x higher six weeks ago:

Access Health CT Logo

via Access Health CT:

Connecticut residents can work one-on-one with enrollment specialists to help them shop, compare and enroll in quality health insurance

HARTFORD, Conn. (Dec. 3, 2021)—Access Health CT (AHCT) today announced it will host three enrollment fairs in December to help Connecticut residents get free, in-person help to shop, compare and enroll in quality health insurance plans. Enrollment fairs are one-day events in addition to Access Health CT’s five other enrollment locations and Navigator partner locations where Connecticut residents can find free, in-person help now and until Open Enrollment ends Jan. 15, 2022.

All in-person enrollment fairs will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the following locations:

Connect for Health Colorado Logo

via Connect for Health Colorado:

Get Covered Colorado Day is December 8

DENVER- December 8, 2021, is Get Covered Colorado Day. The day of action is to encourage as many Coloradans as possible to enroll in 2022 health coverage during the annual Open Enrollment Period. Open Enrollment is the time of year to renew your health plan, change plans or sign up for a plan if you’re uninsured. This year, more residents shopping through Colorado’s health insurance exchange, Connect for Health Colorado, can expect increased plan choice and even more health insurance savings.

“Ensuring every Coloradan has access to high-quality, affordable health care has been a primary focus of our Administration since day one,” said Lt. Governor and Director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care Dianne Primavera. “Get Covered Colorado Day is the perfect opportunity for uninsured Coloradans to sign up, or to remind friends and family that they can save money on their health care by shopping for plans on Connect for Health Colorado.”

NPR Logo

Yesterday there was a bit of a brouhaha caused when NPR reporters Geoff Brumfiel and Daniel Wood published an in-depth report on the partisan divide when it comes to county-level COVID-19 vaccination and death rates, which was heavily influenced by my own work over the past seven months, including two hour-long interviews in which we went into in-depth discussions of data sources, methodology and conclusions.

The controversial aspect was due to the fact that their published piece originally failed to mention my involvement or assistance in any way whatsoever.

After being called out on this by myself and others, Brumfiel called me to personally apologize and rectify the situation. To his credit, he took full responsibility and specifically noted that his colleague, Daniel Wood, had nothing to do with the oversight. Also to his credit, he arranged for the NPR story to be quickly updated to mention my assistance by name as well as to link to one of my own related COVID data analysis posts:

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