We’re excited to share the results of The Asclepius Initiative’s (TAI) health care coverage literacy project, funded through a grant from the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Office of Health Equity. Launched in July 2023, and concluding on May 31, 2024, this project aimed to empower Black, Spanish-speaking, and rural communities with the knowledge needed to navigate the complex world of health care coverage. 

Our Approach

Our goal was to improve health outcomes and reduce financial stress by improving health care coverage literacy, so that community members would be better able to obtain and utilize health care coverage. We collaborated with community partners and local organizations to deliver tailored education to help people understand what coverage they qualify for, how to get it, and how to choose the health care coverage option that best meets their needs.

Building a Network

We developed a comprehensive train-the-trainer model. Key individuals at partner organizations identified Trainers, who received education created in collaboration with TAI. The Trainers then trained Trusted Messengers to directly educate community members.

This approach allowed us to reach people across diverse settings, including health fairs, senior centers, libraries, and clinics, using various communication methods such as in-person presentations, one-on-one counseling, webinars, and social media.

Innovative Materials

Understanding that people learn in different ways, we created a variety of educational materials, including:

• Training manuals
• Glossaries
• Interactive worksheets
• Animated videos and recorded webinars covering such key topics as comparing insurance plans, how to use insurance documents to check for billing errors, understanding Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs), and navigating Medicare options.
• Online quizzes and games
• Social media posts

The grant allowed us to create valuable educational materials in four languages. These materials can be found on TAI’s website, facilitating accessibility for a broader audience. The available resources provide comprehensive support to help individuals make informed decisions about their health care coverage.

Training and Feedback

TAI’s program consisted of initial site visits, online teach-back sessions, and follow-up visits to obtain feedback, update materials, and provide expanded and ongoing education.

Monthly calls with partners helped reinforce knowledge and support outreach efforts. Surveys conducted before and after training sessions indicated a significant increase in participants' knowledge and confidence.

Highlights from our partners include:

• Northeast Kentucky AHEC: Engaged 353 end users and saw major successes in social media advertising and educating senior populations.

• North Central Kentucky AHEC: Engaged 1,042 end users and delivered materials in Spanish, significantly benefiting their community.

• Southeast Kentucky AHEC: Engaged 776 end users and expanded programming and outreach into the elderly population.

• Northwest Kentucky AHEC: Engaged 118 end users and integrated insurance education into their orientation process.

• Somali Community of Louisville: Engaged 2,151 end users, helping to demystify health care coverage and provide individualized support.

• RefugeeConnect: Equipped their team with foundational health care coverage information to better support the refugee populations they serve.

Results and Conclusion

Feedback shows that our health care coverage literacy program clearly had a positive effect. Participants reported higher levels of knowledge and confidence in navigating health care coverage. Our overall end user favorability scores were 4.4 - 4.7 out of 5, and 90% of Trusted Messengers felt confident in their ability to continue offering health care coverage support.

All partners expressed sadness that the grant was ending, emphasizing the project's importance and the value of the educational content. They believe it is essential to continue this work due to its significant impact on the communities they serve.

We believe that increasing health care coverage literacy is crucial for better health outcomes and financial stability. By working with embedded community partners, we can make a meaningful difference in people's lives.



Donate now to help us carry on this important work. Thank you for your continued support as we work towards a healthier, more informed Kentucky.