Feds Spending $3.8 in S.C. to Marketing to Uninsured
Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 9:42PM South Carolina isn't helping promote the federal health care law to the uninsured, but millions of marketing dollars will still be spent within the state.
The federal government is distributing $3.6 million directly to community groups and health centers to promote the law to an estimated 906,400 South Carolinians without health insurance. The grants are part of a nationwide marketing blitz costing taxpayers at least $684 million, according to data compiled by The Associated Press.
The Obama administration and many states are launching campaigns this summer to get the word out before enrollment for new benefits begins in October. Beyond doling out grants directly, the federal government is also funding state-awarded contracts.
South Carolina is receiving proportionately less, as are other Republican-led states that have opposed the law.
It requires people without health coverage to pay a penalty starting Jan 1. Online marketplaces called exchanges, set to debut in October, will enable residents to compare coverage terms and prices and then use federal subsidies, if they qualify, to buy a policy.
South Carolina is not running an exchange, leaving that responsibility to the federal government. That's why the state didn't seek any of the millions available for outreach, marketing and advertising, said John Supra, deputy director of the state's Medicaid agency.
"When we chose to have the federal government operate the exchange, that put the responsibility for marketing and supporting it on the federal government," he said.
South Carolina ranks 32nd in both per capita and total spending.
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