Policy Update, March 20, 2015

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways usually provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

Help improve the Open Enrollment process for the Marketplace.

If you provided a referral, outreach or application assistance with health insurance options during the Open Enrollment Period, please complete this six-question survey today.

Know someone uninsured who was subject to the Tax Penalty?

Special Enrollment Period available through April 30.

Please post this flier and encourage enrollment in health insurance. Individuals who were subject to the tax penalty for being uninsured in 2014 may be eligible for the

"Special Enrollment Period" (SEP) in the Health Insurance Marketplace, even though the open enrollment period ended Feb. 15.

Tax penalties for each year:

2014 - $95/adult; $47.50/child; $285 maximum or 1% of income

2015 - $325/adult; $162.50/child; $975 maximum or 2% of income

2016 - $695/adult; $347.50/child; $2,085 maximum or 2.5% of income

Consumers may still enroll for 2015 coverage, if eligible. Go to www.healthcare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. Call 2-1-1 for information or pre-screening and find an enrollment event near you.

280,000 in HIP 2.0 with 1,000 new providers!

FSSA celebrated the 100,000th Hoosier enrolled in HIP 2.0 on March 18, bringing the total enrollment to 280,000 with those already transitioned from Medicaid and HIP. The Governor's office announced that an additional 335 physicians and 939 providers of all types will accept Indiana Health Coverage Programs.

Most frequent links accessed from our newsletter:

* basic infographic about application process;

* HIP info with various links; and

* Online application with a tip to be sure to submit required documentation at time of application, with barcoded page via email or fax. Or call 1-877-GET-HIP-9.

The Cliff Effect bill moves and an important policy debate about use of limited resources

The Senate Family and Children Services Committee passed HB1616, a bill that would smooth the child care benefit cliff, allowing parents to pay a larger co-pay as their wages increase to 250% of federal poverty rather than being disqualified from the program when their income reaches 171% of poverty. The bill was recommitted to Senate Appropriations. See our prior testimony from the House or from the Senate on a similar bill.

The hearing brought out an
important policy debate about various eligibility programs
(child care, SNAP, housing). In child care, if the wait list is already at 10,000 children and growing, is it better to invest limited resources so that families may stay on until they reach the top end of the income threshold (i.e., with a 10% subsidy) or to help families below poverty (with a 90% or 100% subsidy)? A recent Congressional hearing debated SNAP (Q&A at 54 min) with similar issues. We have heard many concerns: the need to help people at the bottom get on the ladder; the need to help people continue moving up the ladder without requiring them to lose benefits and start over; the need to look at each program's eligibility and service levels; and the need to invest more funds.

We want to hear your opinion. Email us your thoughts or client stories. (Note, we have advocated for both--smoothing the child care cliff and increasing funds to help reduce the wait list and meet unmet needs.)

De-couple or re-couple EITC?

Changing the marriage penalty and allowing families with 3 kids

IaUW has been supporting HB1349, a bill that would recouple the State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to the Federal EITC. This provision has been a priority for the Administration in its efforts to simplify Indiana's tax code. Earlier this week, the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee amended out the re-coupling provision that would have helped low-wage married couples and families with more than two children.

Each year, nearly 500,000 Hoosier taxpayers claim the State EITC, with an average benefit of $194. State EITC helps lift working Hoosiers out of poverty. Review our one-pager.

True story: 2-1-1, a "simple call" and infant mortality

Cheryl Graham, 2-1-1 Director

One call to an IN211 Center about what may seem like a simple issue may uncover other needs. A call about baby bottles revealed that a new mom did not have a baby bed and was co-sleeping with her infant. 2-1-1 helps connect callers with organizations that can prevent long-term needs.

Watch the three-minute video, provided by United Way of Howard County, with video production by smallGIANTdesigns.

Comparing versions of the Federal Budget

Leaders in both chambers of Congress released their budget priorities for period 2016-2025. Both the House and the Senate Budget Committees call for major cuts to programs critical to individuals and families. Both committees propose increases to defense spending. Overly simplified, both proposals would:

seek to balance the budget in 10 years and reduce the debt as a percentage of GDP.
repeal health reform coverage expansions and convert Medicaid to a block grant program while also cutting it deeply. (Note the House version would block grant CHIP and the Senate version would create a new program based on CHIP.)
cut income-based programs such as SNAP, school lunch, Supplemental Security Income for the elderly and disabled poor, the Earned Income Tax Credit and low-income part of the Child Tax Credit, unemployment insurance and Pell grants. (Note the House version would block grant SNAP.)
maintain current sequestration (automatic spending cuts) in 2016 and then cut non-defense spending (arts, parks, education, workforce training, etc.) deeper than sequestration levels.
provide additional "unspecified cuts" in mandatory spending outside of healthcare and Social Security.

Credit to multiple sources: Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, House Budget Committee and Senate Budget Committee. Also see the
President's budget.

Start planning now for National Volunteer Recognition Week

Does your organization rely on volunteers to provide direct service to consumers, to advocate for your issues, to help you raise resources or to govern your organization or all of the above? Now is the time to begin planning for National Volunteer Recognition Week, April 12-18, 2015. Download the Resource Guide from the Points of Light Foundation.

Stay informed and get involved

The Indiana General Assembly has six weeks left. While over 1,200 bills were filed, only a few hundred are still alive. Below are key links.

Calendar of Third House / Meet Your Legislator in easy-view or printable format
Calendar for hearings and session. Committee meetings are usually held Monday - Thursday. Session days are usually held Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Find Your Legislator.
Review the bills and the committees.

Recent documents from the policy team

We are receiving requests for a number of documents we prepared over the last month.

One-page fact sheets on

Recent testimony about

Pre-K and child care in the budget,
HB1616, a bill to smooth the cliff effect, and
HB1349, a bill addressing various tax matters including State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and various tax credits such as Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) Tax Credits.
Work scheduling practices

Our quick summaries about

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on policies that are aligned with the impact work in local communities conducted by our 61 United Ways and United Funds.

Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.

Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.

Frequently Requested Links / Documents

iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.

Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.

NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities - Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly

- Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.

Library of Congress

- Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.