The reasons why insured individuals don’t go to the doctor vary, but there’s one that impacts many U.S. households – lack of internet access.
Here’s what we know:
- Nearly 40% of U.S. households – 48 million – fall below 200% of the federal poverty line1, limiting their ability to afford high-speed internet access
- 24.8% of Americans – 15,955,375 people — work multiple jobs2, limiting their time to go the doctor
Layer in access to childcare or affordable childcare, and we’re looking at some major barriers to visiting the doctor.
Affordable Connectivity Program offers high-speed internet solution
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is an FCC benefit program that provides eligible households a discount of up to $30 per month ($75 per month for households on tribal lands) toward their internet bills. Additionally, more than 20 leading internet providers are offering ACP-eligible households high-speed internet plans for no more than $30 per month. That means a family can pair its $30 ACP benefit with a plan from one of these high-speed internet providers and pay $0 per month.
For the 48 million households below 200% of the federal poverty line, and the subset that works multiple jobs, low- or no-cost internet access is a portal to getting the healthcare they need…via virtual care, which your clients can access on the MyBlueKC app or at BlueKCVirtualCare.com.
Your clients may benefit from ACP
Help your clients bridge the gap between internet access and virtual care to get the healthcare they need.
- Find out more about ACP.
- Help clients qualify and sign up.
- Questions? Call the ACP Support Center at 877-384-2575.
1White House Fact Sheet, May 2022
2Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Multiple Jobholders as a Percent of Employed, June 2022