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It’s Time for the 2020 Census
Every 10 years, the U.S. Constitution directs government officials to conduct a Census of everyone living in the United States (not just citizens). This year’s Census is now underway. All households should have received official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census. You will have three options for responding:
- Online
- By phone
- By mail
Completing the Census using one of these methods will prevent a visit to your home from a Census worker.
Here are a few important things to know about the Census:
- There is no citizenship question. No one will be asked about their citizenship.
- The Census involves basic questions about how many people live in your household and whether you own or rent. It shouldn’t take more than about 15 minutes to complete, probably less!
- The Census results touch every aspect of our lives, affecting everything from where businesses locate to funding for schools, clinics and libraries; from the number of congressional seats and electoral college delegates we’re allotted to legislative boundaries and voting rights enforcement.
- An incomplete count means our businesses, school districts, health care providers, nonprofits and governments will all be making decisions based on data that undercounts our population. The decisions will affect the next decade (until the next Census) — or for generations in the case of infrastructure.
- For every person not counted, our county loses an estimated $25,000 over the 10-year period until the next Census.
During the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau will never ask you for:
- Your Social Security number
- Money or donations
- Anything on behalf of a political party
- Your bank or credit card account numbers
To avoid scams related to the Census, click here. To learn more about the security of the information you provide, click here. For general information about the Census, click here.
If you haven’t yet provided your Census information, do it today!
Special Enrollment Period Announced for Health Insurance
If you are in need of health insurance, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange has announced a special enrollment period due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Qualified individuals may enroll in health insurance now through April 8th.
To learn more, click here. If you need assistance with enrolling in health care insurance, contact our Outreach and Enrollment staff at (360) 788-2669 or enrollment@ucnw.org.
Need Help with Tax Preparation?
Tax Day is coming on Wednesday, April 15, 2020. With the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the tax filing date remains April 15. For those who are required to make a payment, however, you will still need to file by April 15, but, for most Americans, the payment will be extended for 90 days
Need help with tax preparation? If your household makes less than $66,000 a year, you are eligible for free tax preparation and filing assistance from the Opportunity Council. To learn more, visit the Whatcom Asset Building Coalition website.
By now, you have probably received either Form 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C in the mail. You may have received one, two, or all three of these forms, depending on your health insurance coverage in 2019.
Form 1095-A, also known as the “Health Insurance Marketplace Statement,” is sent to everyone who had a Qualified Health Plan in 2019. It is mailed out by Washington Health Plan Finder. You can find an electronic copy on your Washington Health Plan Finder account dashboard. Use this form to fill out IRS Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit, which needs to be included in your federal income tax return when you file. This information determines if you received the right amount of tax credits to help you pay your plan’s premium.
Form 1095-B shows proof of health insurance coverage for 2019. If you had Washington Apple Health insurance coverage last year, you will receive this form. This form may also be mailed out by your private health insurance company or your employer. Form 1095-B is not needed to file your federal tax return, but it is important to keep for your records.
Form 1095-C is called the “Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage.” This form will be mailed out by your employer to show proof of coverage in 2019. Form 1095-C is not needed to file your federal tax return, but is important to keep for your records.
Have You Been Screened for Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a serious disease that harms the liver. It is caused by a virus and spreads from person to person through contact with blood. Without treatment, Hepatitis C can lead to scarring of the liver, liver cancer, and liver failure. But most people don’t even know they have Hepatitis C. Most people with Hepatitis C don’t have any symptoms.
The good news is that screening for Hepatitis C is as easy as a blood test, and new drugs can treat Hepatitis C quite effectively.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you be tested for Hepatitis C if you:
- Were born from 1945 – 1965
- Received donated blood or organs before 1992
- Have ever injected drugs, even just once many years ago
If you fall into any of these categories and have never been screened for Hepatitis C, get screened! Call (360) 676-6177 to make an appointment today. Learn more here.
Jodi Joyce Selected as Unity Care NW CEO
Unity Care NW is excited to announce that our Board of Directors has selected Jodi Joyce as Unity Care NW’s next Chief Executive Officer. Joyce, who currently serves as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Quality & Patient Safety and Chief Quality Officer at University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics, will succeed Desmond Skubi, the agency’s current CEO, at the end of January 2020.
“I am honored to accept this role and am inspired by the vision, passion, and expertise of the individuals who make up Unity Care NW,” said Joyce. “This organization has thrived under Mr. Skubi’s leadership, and I look forward to helping lead the next chapter as we continue to serve Whatcom County’s residents and communities in pursuing our healthiest possible lives.”
Jodi has been at the University of Illinois in Chicago since October 2012. UI Hospital and its network of 12 federally qualified health centers provide access and care for many of Chicago’s most underserved communities. During her time at UI Health, Jodi and her colleagues have led a large “improvement journey” that has resulted in substantial improvements in quality and patient safety. She also teaches courses on quality, safety, leadership, and change management at several of UIC’s health sciences schools. Jodi’s former roles include Vice President for Quality & Patient Safety at Legacy Health, a six-hospital system based in Portland, Oregon, and co-founder and Chief Operating Officer for Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute.
Jodi has prior experience in health care consulting and hospital management and began her career as a neonatal ICU nurse. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Wheaton College (IL), her BSN at Northwestern University, and her MBA at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Jodi is currently nearing the completion of a PhD at UIC.
Return Your Unused Medications
Do you have medications you’d like to clean out of our medicine cabinet? You can now safely dispose of unwanted, expired, and unused medications at both our 218 Unity St. pharmacy in Bellingham and at our North Whatcom Health Center location at 6060 Portal Way in Ferndale. Look for the secure return kiosks in the lobbies of our pharmacies.
Other secure return sites are located throughout Whatcom County. Learn more about the Whatcom Med Return program here. And watch a short video from WhatcomHope.org about safe disposal here.
Project Homeless Connect – July 19th
2018 Event photo. Credit: Edye Collelo-Morton
Unity Care NW is proud to participate again in Project Homeless Connect, on Friday July 19th from 8am to 4pm at the Bellingham High School.This one-day, one-stop event provides a wide range of free services with respectful and generous hospitality for people in Whatcom County experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis. Local Project Homeless Connect events began in 2007 and have continued as part of the Whatcom County Plan to End Homelessness. Recent Project Homeless Connect events have included:
- dental services
- general medical services
- haircuts
- vision and hearing screenings
- housing intakes
- Department of Licensing photo ID’s
- foot care
- counseling/behavioral health care
- employment screenings
- health insurance assistance
- legal and dispute resolution counsel
- General Assistance Unemployable (GAU) and Social Security benefit assistance (SSA)
- massage and chiropractic treatment
- literacy and library assistance
- pet care
Interested in volunteering? Learn more here.
UCNW Launches Parkscription Program
Unity Care NW has teamed up with Recreation NW to bring our patients “Parkscriptions.”
What’s a Parkscription? It’s a prescription from your health care provider for quality outdoor time and activity that can improve mental and physical health and promote healthier lifestyles. With a referral to the Parkscriptions.org website, patients can find conveniently located parks and outdoor recreation opportunities with the amenities they want and need.
This program is open to all Unity Care NW patients free of charge. For more information, talk to your health care provider or contact our Outreach and Enrollment staff at enrollment@ucnw.org.
Are You At Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?
Unity Care NW is partnering with the YMCA to offer a Diabetes Prevention Program. If you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, this program is for you! Call us at (360) 788-2669 for more information.