Vice President Joe Biden recently visited Los Angeles and expressed strong support for the CSU California Health Education Project, which was launched by Cal State L.A. Professor Walter Zelman.
The project is a collaboration between the California State University system and Cal State L.A. to educate CSU students, their families, and campus staff about signing up for affordable health insurance under the new federal health insurance law that was championed by the Obama Administration.
Biden was in Los Angeles on January 23 and met with health leaders involved with Covered California, the online marketplace where consumers can learn about optional insurance plans and seek financial assistance to help pay for coverage. Among those at the meeting was Vanessa Grau, who manages student outreach activities at Cal State L.A. for the Health Insurance Education Project.
“The Vice President was incredibly supportive and was really interested in the CSU system,” Grau said. “He was really impressed with what we are doing with the project.”
Zelman, chair of Cal State L.A.’s Department of Public Health, secured a $1.25 million grant from Covered California in September 2013 to fund the project.
“The purpose of the project is to educate CSU students and their families about health reform and the insurance options it will offer them, and then assist them in enrolling in the new system if they choose to do so,” Zelman said at the time.
The project has representatives on 12 CSU campuses who help inform students and their families through outreach efforts including classroom presentations, flyer distribution and enrollment events.
Open enrollment for insurance plans through Covered California is underway and continues through February 15. To contact a project campus representative, please email the CSU Health Insurance Education Project.
Photo: Vice President Joe Biden and Vanessa Grau of the CSU Health Insurance Education Project. (Courtesy of Vanessa Grau)