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Post by Kentucky News on Dec 4, 2013 12:27:07 GMT -5
Sign-Up for ObamaCare Saturday at Public Libraries Commonwealth News Center press release
Kentuckians seeking information about affordable health care have new opportunities to learn more and get help signing up through two public events this month. Already, more than 65,000 Kentuckians have enrolled in new health insurance through kynect, Kentucky’s health benefit exchange. The deadline to apply for coverage effective Jan. 1, 2014, has been extended to Dec. 23. “Many Kentuckians have already taken advantage of our contact center or consulted kynector agencies or insurance agents across the state for help sorting through their coverage options on kynect,” said Governor Steve Beshear. “These events will provide additional opportunities to get help in your community as we move closer to the end of the year, with many people seeking to make decisions so their coverage is effective as early as possible.” A special event, organized by the Office of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange (OKHBE), will help Kentuckians get the health coverage they need: • Dec. 7 - Sign-Up Saturday: kynectors and other volunteers will be on hand at most libraries across the state on this date to help with enrollment and answer consumer questions. Many libraries also have trained staff members available to help individuals enroll every day. Kentuckians without home Internet access can take advantage of the libraries’ computer access. Check with local libraries for hours of operation. “We encourage anyone who is interested in getting help in person to go on the kynect website and search for an insurance agent or kynector in your area,” said Carrie Banahan, executive director of the OKHBE. “You can also check event listings in your local media to find other opportunities and kynect enrollment events.” Beginning this week, the kynect website boosted its capacity to handle an expected surge of applicants over the coming weeks. Open enrollment through kynect will continue through March 31, 2014, with coverage effective as early as Jan. 1, 2014. For further updates on kynect enrollment numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Kentucky News on Dec 10, 2013 13:43:28 GMT -5
Kynect has added 4000 to ObamaCare, 7000 to Medicaid since Thanksgiving Commonwealth News Center press release
Over a 10-day period beginning Thanksgiving week, Kentucky’s health benefits website, kynect, saw a 16 percent increase in enrollments – adding more than 11,000 Kentuckians to the ranks of the newly insured in just over a week. The largest increase was among individuals purchasing private health insurance plans. From Nov. 26 to Dec. 5, nearly 4,000 Kentuckians chose a new private insurance policy – a 32 percent increase over the prior total of private plans. kynect’s technology team had anticipated a post-holiday increase in web traffic, applications and enrollments and increased capacity in order to meet the demand. kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch Oct. 1 for its continuous smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage. The site continues to enroll about 1,000 Kentuckians each day into new health coverage. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5: • 574,055 unique visitors viewing nearly 16.7 million web pages. That’s an increase of more than 61,000 new website visitors in just over a week. • 453,981 people conducted preliminary screenings to determine qualifications for subsidies, discounts or programs like Medicaid – nearly 37,000 new screenings. • 71,955 enrolled in new health coverage, including Medicaid and private insurance • 56,437 have enrolled in Medicaid and 15,518 have enrolled in a qualified health plan • 41 percent of the enrollees in Medicaid or qualified health plans are under 35 years old. • 28,307 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, but most have not yet chosen a plan • 5,074 have enrolled in dental plans • 1,109 small businesses have started applications for employee coverage; 451 of those businesses have completed applications and are eligible to offer coverage to employees. • More than 194,000 calls answered by the kynect call center For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Kentucky News on Dec 13, 2013 20:12:04 GMT -5
Governor’s Mansion Centennial Celebration Kicks Off Next Month Commonwealth News Center press release
The Kentucky Governor’s Mansion will reach a historic milestone next month, turning 100 years old on Jan. 20. The anniversary will be marked with a yearlong celebration of events honoring the Mansion’s architectural, social and political history. “Jane and I have been fortunate to live at the Mansion and experience firsthand the stunning architecture and impeccable attention to detail that went in to constructing this historic landmark,” said Gov. Beshear. “But we are just the temporary residents. This magnificent building is truly the people’s house and belongs to every Kentuckian. I hope that folks from across the state will come to visit the residence during this special celebration and see the Mansion as they’ve never seen it before.” “Governors’ mansions across the country are becoming increasingly rare, as many have gone by the wayside due to lack of interest in preservation or depleted funding,” said First Lady Jane Beshear. “In Kentucky, we are blessed to have a fully functional and restored executive residence thanks to the support of our leaders and people who value history, art and tradition. The Kentucky Governor’s Mansion has a story to tell, and we invite people of all ages to join us for next year’s Centennial Celebration.” The Governor’s Mansion Centennial Celebration will feature a range of both free and ticketed public and private events, including a Centennial symposium, the Martin Luther King Jr. March and reception, a reception honoring the people of Frankfort, a Kentucky music entertainment weekend and more. The Mansion will also feature several special art exhibits throughout the year, including an Audubon collection. For a complete list of currently scheduled celebration events, visit: governorsmansion.ky.gov/centennial/Pages/events.aspxThe Celebration will kick off with premieres of a new documentary about the historical landmark, called “Kentucky Governor’s Mansion: A Century of Reflection.” The film features interviews with former governors and their families, former and current Mansion staff, notable Kentucky political figures and more. The film’s premieres will be held at the Grand Theatre in Frankfort on Jan. 15 and at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington on Jan. 16. More details about the documentary, ticketing and other Centennial events will be released soon. For the latest Centennial Celebration news and updates, go the official Centennial website at: governorsmansion.ky.gov/centennialvisit the Governor’s Mansion Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/KentuckyGovernorsMansionor follow the Mansion on Twitter @govmansion1914 The Kentucky Governor’s Mansion is the official home of the state’s Governor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of only a handful of executive residences in the United States open to the public for tours. To schedule a tour, visitors can contact the Capitol tour desk at 502-564-3449 or by email at capitol.wc@ky.gov. For more Mansion history and visiting information, go to: governorsmansion.ky.gov
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Post by Kentucky News on Dec 23, 2013 23:00:43 GMT -5
kynect: 74,054 Medical Cards Issued, 36,700 eligible for taxpayer subsidy, 26,042 enrolled Commonwealth News Center press release
The 100,000th Kentuckian enrolled in health insurance over the weekend thanks to kynect, the state’s health benefit exchange, continuing the surge of interest and applications for health insurance since Thanksgiving. If premiums are paid on time, coverage will begin for these enrolled Kentuckians on Jan. 1. As Kentucky’s health benefit website administrators predicted, thousands of Kentuckians are making final decisions on their family’s health care plans in time to ensure their coverage is effective by New Year’s Day. Purchases of private health plans soared again, with more than 5,000 new enrollments since last week. Since Thanksgiving week, enrollments in private health insurance have swelled by 121 percent. Surge preparations paying off kynect’s technology team had anticipated a post-Thanksgiving increase in web traffic, applications and enrollments, and the team increased capacity in order to meet the demand. The kynect team reviewed all technology systems to make sure each element could handle a significant increase in web traffic, including account creation, application, eligibility determination, shopping, and verification tasks. Beginning Dec. 2, the kynect website boasted a more than 80 percent increase in capacity due to adding more servers to the core infrastructure, along with other solution refinements. The kynect call center added Sunday hours to process the additional crush of calls and applications, making the center a 7-day-a-week operation. kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch Oct. 1 for its smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage. Since Thanksgiving week, the site has enrolled nearly 1,600 Kentuckians each day into new health coverage. Individuals may sign up for insurance anytime before March 31 to avoid penalties. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21: • 684,000 unique visitors viewing 21.6 million web pages. That’s an increase of nearly 62,000 new website visitors in just over a week. • 518,000 people conducted preliminary screenings to determine qualifications for subsidies, discounts or programs like Medicaid – about 37,000 new screenings. • 100,096 Kentuckians are now enrolled in new health coverage, including Medicaid and private insurance – an 18.5 percent increase over last week. • 74,054 have enrolled in Medicaid. • 26,042 have enrolled in a qualified health plan (QHP) – an additional 5,091 over last week. Since Thanksgiving week, QHP purchases have increased 121 percent. • Nearly 40 percent of the enrollees in Medicaid or qualified health plans are under 35 years old. • 36,700 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, but many have not yet chosen a plan. • 8,437 have enrolled in dental plans. • 1,232 small businesses have started applications for employee coverage; 500 of those businesses have completed applications and are eligible to offer coverage to employees. • More than 279,000 calls processed by the kynect call center – a 79 percent increase in call volume since Thanksgiving week. For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Kentucky News on Jan 1, 2014 7:42:51 GMT -5
Final 2013 kynect stats: 84,480 receive Medical Cards, 31,672 enroll in ObamaCare Commonwealth News Center press release
Since Thanksgiving week, enrollments through Kentucky’s health insurance website, kynect, are up nearly 93 percent – and more than 1 out of every 4 signups is for private health insurance. As Kentucky’s health benefit website administrators predicted, thousands of Kentuckians made final decisions on their family’s health care plans by Dec. 23, the deadline to ensure their coverage would be effective New Year’s Day. Purchases of private health plans soared again, with 5,630 new enrollments since last week. Since Thanksgiving week, enrollments in private health insurance have swelled by 169 percent. kynect administrators strongly encouraged those who have enrolled in private insurance plans to pay their first premium by their insurer’s deadline to ensure coverage begins promptly. Payments must be received by insurers by Jan. 10. However, open enrollment continues through March 31 for any Kentuckian seeking health insurance. Those who apply over the next couple weeks can have coverage activated as soon as Feb. 1. kynect’s technology team had anticipated a post-Thanksgiving increase in web traffic, applications and enrollments as individuals made decisions on coverage in advance of the Dec. 23 deadline. The team increased capacity in order to meet that demand. Since open enrollment began on Oct. 1, kynect has enrolled nearly 1,300 Kentuckians in new health coverage each day. kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch for its smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage. Information for newly insured
If you signed up for coverage on or before Dec. 23 but haven’t yet received your insurance cards in the mail, don’t worry. Insurers are processing a high volume of new enrollments. To verify coverage with your insurer, go to your kynect account. On the dashboard, click “View Details”, then “Future Enrollments” to get your Enrollment ID Number. Providing your kynect Enrollment ID Number to your insurance provider will assist issuers in locating new enrollees in their systems. Welcome packets and invoices should arrive soon for people who signed up in the past several weeks. Weekly statistics report: The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 30: • 747,359 unique visitors viewing nearly 24.3 million web pages • 544,185 people conducted preliminary screenings to determine qualifications for subsidies, discounts or programs like Medicaid – about 26,000 new screenings since last week • 116,152 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage, including Medicaid and private insurance – a 16 percent increase over last week • 84,480 have enrolled in Medicaid • 31,672 have enrolled in a qualified health plan – which is a 22 percent jump in private health insurance enrollments since last week, and a 169 percent increase since Thanksgiving week • 40 percent of the enrollees in Medicaid or qualified health plans are under 35 years old • 39,814 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, but some have not yet chosen a plan • 10,106 have enrolled in dental plans • 1,269 small businesses have started applications for employee coverage; 513 of those businesses have completed applications and are eligible to offer coverage to employees. • More than 304,000 calls processed by the kynect call center. For further updates on kynect numbers, visit: governor.ky.gov/healthierkyStatistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Kentucky News on Jan 8, 2014 17:55:38 GMT -5
One-day Goods Drive Benefits Kentucky Domestic Violence Association Shelters Commonwealth News Center press release
First Lady Jane Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to volunteer and participate in the 6th Annual “Shop & Share” day, a one-day goods drive to benefit Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA) shelters across the state. The drive will be held at Kentucky Kroger, Food City and Super Dollar Discount Food stores on the Saturday of Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Domestic violence crosses all spectrums – no matter your race, religion, economic or social standing. Anyone can be affected,” said Mrs. Beshear. “In America, one-third of women report abuse in their lifetime, and many of those women turn to shelters to escape the violence and rebuild their lives. Shop & Share is a simple way for Kentuckians to support domestic violence shelters and help victims and their families. On Feb. 1, while gathering Super Bowl game-day supplies or shopping for weekly groceries, Kentuckians can purchase needed goods and then donate them directly to KDVA shelters.” According to a Center for Disease Control survey, Kentucky ranks 11th in the nation in terms of people experiencing intimate partner violence. On Shop & Share Day, volunteers at each Kroger, Food City and Super Dollar Discount Food store will provide a list of items needed at KDVA shelters — such as canned foods, school supplies, toilet paper and soap. Monetary donations will also be accepted. To sign-up as a Shop & Share volunteer at your local store, visit: secure.kentucky.gov/FormServices/FirstLady/ShopandShare100 percent of the contributions collected through Shop & Share will be donated to the 15 KDVA shelters across the state. To date, Shop & Share has raised more than $2 million in combined goods and monetary donations for KDVA. Organizational partners for 2014 Shop & Share include the First Lady’s Office, KDVA, Kroger, Food City, Super Dollar stores, the Kentucky Commission on Women, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, the Girls Scouts of Wilderness Road Council and the Kentucky Drug Court. For more information on Shop & Share, visit: firstlady.ky.gov/initiatives/shopandshareFor more information, please visit: www.kdva.org
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Post by Kentucky News on Jan 17, 2014 21:33:11 GMT -5
KyNect adds 122,328 to Medicaid; Enrolls 39,771 in ObamaCare Commonwealth News Center press release
Signups for affordable health insurance are not only going strong in the Commonwealth – they are accelerating. More than 162,000 Kentuckians are now enrolled in new health coverage, or an average of 1,500 per day. That’s even faster than the initial rate last fall of 1,000 signups per day. kynect administrators report that the website consistently supports 2,000 concurrent users during heaviest usage times. One out of every 4 kynect signups is for private health insurance. kynect administrators strongly encourage those who have enrolled in private insurance plans desiring a Jan. 1 effective date but have not paid their first premiums to do so as soon as possible. However, open enrollment continues through March 31 for any Kentuckian seeking health insurance. kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch for its smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage. Information for newly insured If you began the process of signing up for coverage on or before Dec. 23 and selected a plan but haven’t yet received your insurance cards in the mail, don’t worry. Insurers are processing a high volume of new enrollments. To verify coverage with your insurer, go to your kynect account. On the dashboard, click “View Details”, then “Future Enrollments” to get your Enrollment ID Number. Providing your kynect Enrollment ID Number to your insurance provider will assist issuers in locating new enrollees in their systems. Welcome packets and invoices should arrive soon for people who signed up in the past several weeks. Weekly statistics report The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17: • 890,896 unique visitors viewing more than 30 million web pages • 606,455 preliminary screenings • 162,099 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage, including Medicaid and private insurance • 122,328 have enrolled in Medicaid • 39,771 have enrolled in a qualified health plan • 48,476 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, but some have yet to select a plan • Nearly 44 percent of the total enrollees (Medicaid or qualified health plans) are under 35 years old, and nearly 32 percent of enrollees in private health plans are under 35 • 12,712 enrolled in standalone dental plans • 1,336 small businesses have started applications for employee coverage, and 537 of those businesses have completed applications and are eligible to offer coverage to employees. • 395,559 calls handled by the kynect contact center, an average of more than 3,600 per day. For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Kentucky News on Jan 30, 2014 19:10:33 GMT -5
Half of incoming students cannot count or read Commonwealth News Center press release
Governor Steve Beshear announced today that 49 percent of students started kindergarten this school year ready to learn and succeed. However, nearly 26,000 students entered school unprepared for kindergarten work. “From day one, these students may be at a disadvantage; they are behind, and some lack the foundational skills on which to build,” Gov. Beshear said. “Too often, they don’t catch up with their peers. As a result, these students may face years of poor grades and negative school experiences that usually only end when they drop out or graduate from high school unprepared for college or career.” The Governor announced the results of the first statewide implementation of the common Kindergarten Readiness Screener at a news conference with Education Commissioner Terry Holliday and Terry Tolan, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood. Teachers administered the BRIGANCE K Screener to 50,532 kindergarten students in all 173 school districts at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year. The screener measures howhow well a child is prepared to succeed at the time the screener is administered. Students are asked their name and age, to recite the alphabet and count to 30, among other tasks. The common kindergarten screener, as outlined in 704 KAR 5:070, provides teachers with key information early in the school year that they can use to guide instruction to meet the individual needs of all students. The screener is aligned with both Kentucky’s school readiness key definition and Kentucky’s Early Childhood Standards. “This data will help us prevent and close achievement gaps before they become insurmountable,” Commissioner Holliday said. “It will not only help kindergarten teachers make sure they are providing the best instruction to meet individual student needs, but also will ensure our primary grades are building on a student’s knowledge. Our goal is for every child to be reading on grade level or above by the time they leave the 3rd grade.” Holliday said countless research studies show that a student’s ability to read and adequately comprehend by the time they exit primary school is a key indicator of a student’s future educational success and whether they will graduate from high school college/career-ready. As part of the kindergarten screener, parents were also asked to fill out a survey about what type of setting the child was in the year before starting kindergarten, along with several other things. The questionnaire did not distinguish whether the program was a half-day or full-day program, or the duration a child spent in a particular setting. “This is an opportunity for school districts, parents, public preschools, private childcare providers and communities to come together and join their Community Early Childhood Councils to improve early learning experiences for all children,” said Terry Tolan, executive director of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood (KYGOEC). The kindergarten readiness screener is just one tool among many that can be used to strengthen communication and collaboration between all members of the community. Resources to support quality learning experiences are available for parents and for early care and education providers on the Kentucky Department of Education and the KYGOEC websites. “Our objective is continuous improvement,” Tolan said. “With this data, resources from the Race to the Top Early Learning Grant and the Governor’s commitment to early childhood education, I am confident we will see more children arrive at kindergarten prepared to start and succeed in school in the years to come.” “Quality early childhood education will be the game changer for the next generation of students and for our schools,” Commissioner Holliday said. “I am proud of the Governor and our state’s effort on behalf of our youngest citizens.” The kindergarten readiness screener data is available in the supplemental data section of KDE’s Open House and will be added to the school report card in the fall. To learn more about the common kindergarten screener or to view an early childhood data profile on your area, visit the KYGOEC’s website at: kidsnow.ky.gov
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Post by Kentucky News on Jan 31, 2014 22:31:34 GMT -5
kynect has enrolled 151,342 in Medicaid; 44,160 in ObamaCare Commonwealth News Center press release
Signups for affordable health insurance are still going strong in the Commonwealth – with an average of nearly 1,600 new enrollees each day. More than 195,000 Kentuckians are now enrolled in new health coverage, and that total is likely to surpass the 200,000 mark over the weekend. kynect administrators report that the website consistently supports 2,000 concurrent users during heaviest usage times. Approximately one out of every 4 kynect signups is for private health insurance. Open enrollment continues through March 31 for any Kentuckian seeking health insurance. kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch for its smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage. With approximately 640,000 uninsured Kentuckians prior to the start of open enrollment on Oct. 1, kynect is helping significantly reduce that number and ensure access to quality, affordable care each day. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 8 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31: • 195,502 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage, including Medicaid and private insurance • 151,342 have enrolled in Medicaid • 44,160 have enrolled in a qualified health plan • 983,225 unique visitors viewing 34.1 million web pages • 647,186 preliminary screenings • 13,989 enrolled in standalone dental plans • 54,094 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, some have yet to select a plan • 456,950 calls handled by the kynect contact center For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Kentucky News on Feb 5, 2014 19:32:51 GMT -5
Beshear to visit London and Manchester Commonwealth News Center press release
Governor Steve Beshear today announced he will lead a Kentucky Export Initiative (KEI) trade mission to the United Kingdom. The trade mission is set for May 11-16 and will focus on increasing commerce, promoting travel and tourism, and building business relationships between Kentucky and the United Kingdom. The KEI delegation will make stops in London and Manchester. “We do a tremendous amount of business with the UK, exporting more than a billion dollars in products and services a year, but there is plenty of room to grow,” said Gov. Beshear. “This trade mission will give Kentucky businesses the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings, build relationships to increase sales and explore one of Europe’s most established markets.” The United Kingdom has the sixth-largest economy in the world, and with few trade barriers, it is a popular entry market into the European Union. Kentucky exported more than $1.6 billion in products and services to the United Kingdom last year, a more than 20 percent increase from 2012. Top exports include aerospace and pharmaceuticals products. Kentucky exports to the United Kingdom have played a key role in boosting the Commonwealth’s economy. In the first 11 months of 2013, Kentucky’s exports of products and services to the United Kingdom generated $839 million for Kentucky’s GDP, supported more than 10,000 jobs in the Commonwealth, and created $69 million in state and local taxes for Kentucky. Kentucky tourism officials will participate in the trip and visit media, tour operators and others to discuss tourism opportunities in Kentucky. Tourism has a $12.2 billion annual economic impact in Kentucky. The trip follows another record export year for Kentucky in 2013. Exports of Kentucky-made products and services during the first 11 months of 2013 totalled a record $23 billion. Kentucky exports to approximately 199 nations, and the United Kingdom consistently comes in as the third largest destination for Kentucky products and services behind only Canada and Mexico. The visit will be KEI’s second trade and investment mission. Gov. Beshear led a delegation to Canada in June 2013. Gov. Beshear created the KEI to bring together agencies and organizations to help facilitate international trade opportunities for Kentucky businesses. Comprised of government entities, business organizations and trade experts, the KEI partnership includes the Cabinet for Economic Development; Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet; Kentucky Association of Manufacturers; World Trade Center Kentucky; Kentucky Association for Economic Development; the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Commercial Service; Kentucky Small Business Development Center; Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement; Northern Kentucky International Trade Association; Commerce Lexington; Greater Louisville Inc. and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. Companies interested in participating in the trade mission are encouraged to act quickly due to limited spacing. For more information and to register, visit www.kyexports.com. Some companies may be eligible for grant assistance for business and export development services through the Bluegrass Economic Advancement Movement’s (BEAM) Kentucky Export Promotion program. More information on this program can be found at: www.louisvilleky.gov/beam“The trade mission is a great opportunity for participants to take advantage of networking opportunities with government and industry leaders,” said Larry Hayes, secretary of the Cabinet for Economic Development. “Kentucky has the potential to reap increasingly significant economic benefits from international visitors, and the UK continues to be a top target market,” said Bob Stewart, secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. “Bourbon, horses and the great outdoors are especially appealing to this market of potential travelers, many of whom are well versed with the United States but are looking beyond the usual destinations they have been to in the past. The timing is perfect for us to see an increase in international visitors, especially from the UK.”
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Post by Kentucky News on Feb 21, 2014 16:21:09 GMT -5
Kentucky native, Denver Bronco tight end Jacob Tamme to be guest speaker at 2014 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast Commonwealth News Center press release
Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear invite Kentuckians to participate in the 2014 Governor’s Prayer Breakfast, to be held Thursday, March 13 at the Frankfort Convention Center. Kentucky native and current NFL tight end Jacob Tamme will deliver the keynote address. The Governor’s Prayer Breakfast is a long-standing tradition in Kentucky dating back to 1965 and includes representatives of all three branches of government. Each year, this nondenominational gathering provides Kentuckians with an opportunity to give thanks for blessings and ask for strength to lead the Commonwealth toward a better future. “For decades, the prayer breakfast has provided the opportunity for people to slow down for a moment, take a deep breath and reflect on how to personally grow and serve during the upcoming year,” said Gov. Beshear. “I encourage Kentuckians to join us for this year’s breakfast and share a renewed commitment to our faith and working together to make Kentucky a better place now and for generations to come.” The special guest speaker at this year’s breakfast is Jacob Tamme, a tight end for the 2014 American Football Conference Champion Denver Broncos. Tamme was born in Danville, Kentucky and went on to play college football at the University of Kentucky and graduated with a Masters of Business Administration before being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 2008. Tamme has played in two Super Bowls and received many athletic and academic accolades throughout his career, including the prestigious Bobby Bowden Athlete of the Year Award from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2007. Tamme’s family still lives in Kentucky and he keeps strong ties with his hometown, supporting the local community and speaking out about the importance of faith and family in both his personal and professional life. He and his wife, Allison, are founders of the “Swings for Soldiers Classic” charity event to benefit wounded soldiers. The money raised from the golf classic goes directly to “Homes for Our Troops”, a program that builds specially adapted homes for wounded veterans. In addition to Tamme, the March 13 prayer event will feature music, special readings and a Kentucky Proud breakfast including bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, hash brown casserole and biscuits. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. Eastern time and the program will begin at 8 a.m. Eastern time. Tickets are $10 each at the door or $125 in advance for a reserved table of 8. For more information about tickets or to a reserve table, go to; governor.ky.gov/prayerbreakfast
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Post by Kentucky News on Feb 28, 2014 19:45:50 GMT -5
kynect has added 210,545 to Medicaid; 54,369 have signed up for ObamaCare Commonwealth News Center press release
Signups for affordable health insurance are still going strong in the Commonwealth. In February alone, nearly 70,000 Kentuckians signed up for health insurance, or about 2,400 each day this month. Nearly 265,000 Kentuckians are now enrolled in new healthcare coverage through kynect, and that number is expected to grow as the last month of open enrollment begins. Approximately 48 percent of all kynect enrollees are under the age of 35. Open enrollment continues through March 31 for any Kentuckian seeking health insurance. kynect administrators report that the website consistently supports 2,000 concurrent users during heaviest usage times. kynect has been hailed as a national model since its launch for its smooth operation and easy interface for users looking for affordable health coverage. With approximately 640,000 uninsured Kentuckians prior to the start of open enrollment on Oct. 1, kynect is helping significantly reduce that number and ensure access to quality, affordable care each day. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 8 a.m. Friday, Feb. 28: • 264,914 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage • 210,545 have qualified for Medicaid coverage • 54,369 have purchased private insurance • 1,173,577 unique visitors have viewed 42.1 million web pages • 727,236 individuals have conducted preliminary screenings • 16,972 have enrolled in standalone dental plans • 64,234 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, some have yet to select a plan • 1,480 small businesses have started applications for employee coverage; 582 of those businesses have completed applications and are eligible to offer coverage to employees. • 576,987 calls have been handled by the kynect contact center For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Press Release on Mar 22, 2014 6:32:34 GMT -5
kynect has given out 257,477 Medical Cards; 64,455 have joined ObamaCare Commonwealth News Center press release
More than 321,000 Kentuckians are now enrolled in new healthcare coverage through kynect, and that number is expected to keep growing in the final 10 days of open enrollment. A preliminary analysis has found that approximately 75 percent of all enrollees report that they did not have insurance before signing up for healthcare coverage through kynect. With approximately 640,000 uninsured Kentuckians prior to the start of open enrollment on Oct. 1, kynect is helping significantly reduce that number and ensure access to quality, affordable care each day. It’s clear that Kentuckians are responding quickly to the deadline for enrollment on March 31, 2014. In the past seven days, nearly 3,100 Kentuckians have signed up each day for quality, affordable health insurance. Individuals who remain uninsured as of April 1, 2014 could face a financial penalty of $95 or 1 percent of income, whichever is greater. That penalty applies to every uninsured member of a household and increases significantly from year to year. “Tens of thousands of Kentuckians have taken the initial application steps and know they are eligible for a subsidy to help lower the cost of purchasing health insurance,” said Carrie Banahan, executive director of kynect. “In these final days of open enrollment, we strongly encourage those folks to complete their applications and choose a plan. After March 31, subsidies to help cover the cost of a private health plan won’t be available again until the fall enrollment period – and by that point, being without insurance may cost you on your taxes.” Since Jan. 1, 2014, hospitals and other healthcare providers have received more than $45 million in payments for services provided to individuals newly eligible for Medicaid coverage. These include payments of $18 million to Kentucky hospitals and $15 million to Kentucky pharmacies. The vast majority of the nearly 20,000 newly insured patients seen by hospitals and reimbursed for services would have been considered indigent prior to Medicaid expansion and most likely would have been written off as uncompensated charity care by the hospitals. Gov. Beshear’s decision to expand the income eligibility requirement for Medicaid to 138 percent of the federal poverty level has allowed many low-income Kentuckians access to health care, many for the first time. These include individuals making less than $15,856 a year and families of four with income below $32,499. These figures don’t include reimbursements to healthcare providers for patients with new private health insurance. About 1 out of every 13 Kentuckians, or 7.5 percent of the state’s population, now has health insurance through kynect. Nearly half of all kynect enrollees (49 percent) are under the age of 35. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of 6 p.m. Thursday, March 20: • 321,932 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage • 257,477 have qualified for Medicaid coverage • 64,455 have purchased private insurance • 49 percent of all kynect enrollees are under the age of 35 • 32 percent of all private health plan enrollees are under age 35 • 1.3 million unique visitors viewing 48 million web pages • 787,591 individuals have conducted preliminary screenings • 74,551 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, some have yet to select a plan • 684,347 calls have been handled by the kynect contact center • Silver is by far the most popular metal level of private health insurance, with more than 41 percent of plans purchased. Platinum is next with 28 percent, followed by gold at 17 percent and bronze at 11 percent. Catastrophic plans make up less than 2 percent of plans purchased. Kentuckians can call the kynect call center at 1-855-4kynect or search at kynect.ky.gov to find a kynector or insurance agent who can assist them with enrollment. For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 1, 2014 18:56:56 GMT -5
kynect has given out 293,802 Medical Cards, signed up 77,027 on ObamaCare Commonwealth News Center press release
After a huge surge of applications in the final days, more than 370,000 Kentuckians enrolled in new healthcare coverage through kynect since Oct. 1. While open enrollment was scheduled to end at midnight on March 31, Kentuckians who encountered trouble completing or starting an application due to high demand will be able to complete enrollment starting April 4 through midnight April 11. The pace of Kentuckians signing up for coverage before the March 31, 2014 deadline surged with more than 21,000 signups in the last three days, with approximately 12,000 on Monday alone. More than 1 out of every 12 Kentuckians, or 8.6 percent of the state’s population, now has health insurance through kynect. “We are thrilled with the level of interest and enrollment that we’ve seen for our first open enrollment period,” said Carrie Banahan, executive director of kynect. “Our goal all along has been to get new, affordable healthcare to those who need it. In order to make sure everyone who tried to start or file an application yesterday has a chance to do so, there will be a special enrollment period from April 4 to midnight April 11. We strongly encourage those who have started applications to complete them as soon as possible, to reduce possible wait times toward the end of the grace period.” A preliminary analysis recently found that approximately 75 percent of all enrollees report that they did not have insurance before signing up for healthcare coverage through kynect. With approximately 640,000 uninsured Kentuckians prior to the start of open enrollment on Oct. 1, kynect has already significantly reduced that number and is ensuring access to quality, affordable care each day. Statistics on the Final Surge The biggest jump in enrollments was for private health plan purchases, which increased by more than 6,700 plans since Friday – an 8.7 percent swell in just four days. The kynect website, which has been hailed as a national leader for its ease of use, saw 1.4 million page views on Monday. For comparison, the site hosted 1.1 million views on October 1, the first day of open enrollment, and 900,000 on December 23, which was a deadline for Jan.1 enrollment. On Monday, the kynect site was consistently supporting about 6,000 concurrent self-service users from 9 a.m. through midnight. For incomplete applications and enrollments If an individual attempted to start, started or filed an application by March 31, kynect will work with them to make sure they get enrolled during that period. Individuals will also have until April 15 to select a plan, with coverage beginning May 1. After the open enrollment period, individuals will still be able to apply for Medicaid, but only those who experience a qualifying event will be able to purchase private health plans. It’s important to note that these enrollment numbers should not be considered final, as many more Kentuckians may be expected to complete applications, enrollments, or choose health plans over the next couple of weeks. Final numbers will not be compiled until after April 15. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of midnight Monday, March 31: • 370,829 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage • 293,802 have qualified for Medicaid coverage • 77,027 have purchased private insurance • 50 percent of all kynect enrollees are under the age of 35 • 33 percent of all private health plan enrollees are under age 35 • 85,167 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan, some have yet to select a plan • 762,148 calls have been handled by the kynect contact center • Silver is by far the most popular metal level of private health insurance, with more than 42 percent of plans purchased. Platinum is next with 26 percent, followed by gold at 17 percent and bronze at 13 percent. Catastrophic plans make up less than 2 percent of plans purchased. Kentuckians can also call the kynect call center at 1-855-4kynect or search at kynect.ky.gov to find a kynector or insurance agent who can assist them with enrollment. For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 4, 2014 21:48:41 GMT -5
Berea College Students Handcraft Clay County Chair for Governor’s Mansion ‘County Seats Legacy Project’ Commonwealth News Center press release
As part of the Governor’s Mansion Centennial Celebration, student-artists from Berea College have handcrafted 120 new chairs for the Governor’s Mansion. Each “County Seats Legacy Project” chair represents a Kentucky county, and is being funded by private donations from every county. “We are so fortunate to have the unbelievably talented student-artists at Berea working on this legacy project,” Gov. Steve Beshear said. “I cannot think of a better pairing than to have Kentucky artists craft furniture for our state’s executive residence. This is a truly once-in-a-lifetime, entirely Kentucky project.” Berea student-artists designed, built and upholstered each chair. Every chair frame was handcrafted using only locally-sourced and sustainable maple wood from Daniel Boone National Forest. “The chairs or ‘seats’ that the Mansion formerly used for large-scale events were in poor condition, unsafe for guests and in desperate need of replacement,” said Ann Evans, executive director of the Governor’s Mansion. “We thought that the Centennial Celebration would be the perfect time to replace the dilapidated chairs, but because of tight and limited budgets, we had to get creative.” Kentucky Executive Mansion Foundation Inc. (KEMFI) administrators invited each of Kentucky’s 120 counties be a part of the County Seats Legacy Project by sponsoring one of the handcrafted seats. Each county privately raised $1,000 for the project, and each chair will have a name plaque of a Kentucky county placed on it. “Individuals, businesses and local organizations from all of our Kentucky counties stepped up to the plate for this project,” said First Lady Jane Beshear. “On behalf of KEMFI and all Kentuckians, I want to thank each donor for his or her generous contribution. Thanks to this legacy project, each Kentucky county will be represented at the Mansion for many years to come.” For a complete list of donors, go to: 1.usa.gov/1jG4plGFor a downloadable, high resolution image of the chair, go to: 1.usa.gov/1gqO52WBerea College students Berea student artists are part of the college’s Student Craft Education program, which has been a vital part of the school since 1893. More than 100 students work 10 to 15 hours per week in the various departments of student crafts. Their focus is on producing works that maintain strong ties to the elemental nature of the Appalachian region – design excellence, a respect for materials and the honor that comes from hard work.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 4, 2014 21:50:24 GMT -5
kynect Special Enrollment Period Set for April 4-11 Commonwealth News Center press release
Due to high demand, kynect has scheduled a special enrollment period to give Kentuckians who had trouble starting or completing applications during open enrollment a final opportunity to apply for subsidies and purchase new affordable health coverage from today through midnight April 11. Kentuckians who completed their applications by March 31 can visit the kynect.ky.gov website beginning April 4 to select a plan. All individuals must select a plan by midnight April 15, with coverage beginning May 1. “This will be the last chance for most people to sign up for private health plans and possibly receive discounts until the fall open enrollment period,” said Carrie Banahan, executive director of kynect. “We strongly encourage those who still need to select a plan to do so as soon as possible. Those who have started applications should work to complete them quickly too, to reduce possible wait times toward the end of the grace period.” To take advantage of the special enrollment period, Kentuckians will be asked to attest that they attempted to complete an application by March 31, 2014, and had problems doing so. On the kynect website, this will mean simply selecting a button when the special enrollment screen comes up. Applications must be completed by midnight April 11, and a plan must be selected by midnight April 15. Kentuckians who need assistance can also contact the kynect call center at 1-855-4kynect weekdays from 7 a.m. to midnight Eastern time or from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Saturday and Sunday. They can also search at kynect.ky.gov to find a kynector or insurance agent who can assist them with enrollment, or visit a local Department for Community Based Services office. After the open enrollment period, individuals will still be able to apply for Medicaid. Only those who experience a qualifying event, such as the loss of employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, will be able to purchase private health plans. The next open enrollment period begins Nov. 15, 2014. After a huge surge of applications in the final days of the official open enrollment period, more than 370,000 Kentuckians had enrolled in new healthcare coverage through kynect between Oct. 1 and March 31. More than 1 out of every 12 Kentuckians, or 8.6 percent of the state’s population, now has health insurance through kynect. For further updates on kynect numbers, visit: governor.ky.gov/healthierky
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Post by Press Release on Apr 4, 2014 21:55:54 GMT -5
Kentucky, Wisconsin Governors Offer Friendly Wager on NCAA Final Four Game Commonwealth News Center press release
Governor Steve Beshear and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker are wagering on their home teams in Saturday’s NCAA Final Four men’s basketball game. Gov. Beshear bet a fully stocked Kentucky bourbon bar that the University of Kentucky Wildcats will win; Gov. Scott offered Wisconsin beer, bratwursts and cheese for a Wisconsin Badgers victory. “The Wildcats are playing their best basketball of the year, and they’ve already taken out three of last year’s Final Four teams,” said Gov. Beshear. “It will be a real treat to see these fantastic coaches, John Calipari and Bo Ryan, go head-to-head, but Kentucky clearly has the edge over the Badgers. We’ll look forward to grilling those Wisconsin brats after the Kentucky win on Saturday. Go Cats!” “The Badgers season has been un-BO-lievable,” Governor Walker said. “With two great teams and great fan bases, this game will be one for record books. Under the leadership of Coach Ryan and with the exceptional talent of all our players, the Badgers have the momentum and skills to tame the Kentucky Wildcats and move onto the final. On Wisconsin and go Bucky!” The Kentucky bourbon basket – created from a half-barrel from Maker’s Mark – will include some of the state’s best premium Bourbon brands – Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, Wild Turkey, Jim Beam, Bulleit Bourbon, Four Roses, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig and Town Branch Bourbon. The barrel also will include barware, glasses, apparel and accessories to conduct a priceless Bourbon tasting. The basket is provided by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. “Kentucky has raised the bar in the NCAA Tournament, and this bet is proof that the Wildcats will keep the hardware – and the Bourbon – in the Bluegrass where it belongs,” said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. The Cats will tip off against the Badgers on Saturday at 8:49 p.m. EST at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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Post by Press Release on Apr 11, 2014 12:22:15 GMT -5
kynect has issued 322,827 medical cards, 79,580 have purchased ObamaCare insurance; 402,677 did not sign up for any coverage Commonwealth News Center press release
More than 30,000 individuals signed up for healthcare coverage during the April 4-11 kynect special enrollment period, bringing total kynect enrollment to over 402,000. The deadline to apply for subsidies and purchase new affordable health coverage ends at midnight April 11. Kentuckians who completed their applications by March 31 can visit the kynect.ky.gov website to select a plan. All individuals must select a plan by midnight April 15, with coverage beginning May 1. “There’s still time for people to sign up for private health plans and possibly receive discounts, but after midnight Friday, they’ll need to wait until the fall open enrollment period,” said Carrie Banahan, executive director of kynect. “We strongly encourage those who still need to select a plan to do so as soon as possible. Those who have started applications should work to complete them quickly, too.” To take advantage of the special enrollment period, Kentuckians are asked to attest that they attempted to complete an application by March 31, 2014, and had problems doing so. On the kynect website, this will simply require selecting a button when the special enrollment screen comes up. Applications must be completed by midnight April 11, and a plan must be selected by midnight April 15. Since the special enrollment period began last week, Kentuckians continued to swarm the website and call center. An average of 4,500 Kentuckians have signed up each day since April 4 – similar to the final peak days of enrollment in late March. Now, nearly 1 out of every 11 Kentuckians has health insurance through kynect – or 9.3 percent of the state’s population. These figures do not include previously uninsured individuals who may have purchased health insurance through a private agent, not through kynect. Kentuckians who need assistance can also contact the kynect call center at 1-855-4kynect weekdays from 7 a.m. to midnight Eastern time or from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Saturday and Sunday. They can also search at kynect.ky.gov to find a kynector or insurance agent who can assist them with enrollment, or visit a local Department for Community Based Services office. After the open enrollment period, individuals will still be able to apply for Medicaid. Only those who experience a qualifying event, such as the loss of employer-sponsored health insurance coverage, will be able to purchase private health plans. The next open enrollment period begins Nov. 15, 2014. The below statistics reflect activity on kynect as of noon, April 10: 402,407 Kentuckians are enrolled in new health coverage 322,827 have qualified for Medicaid coverage 79,580 have purchased private insurance 51 percent of all kynect enrollees are under age 35 33 percent of all private health plan enrollees are under age 35 Nearly 1.5 million unique visitors to kynect website 873,084 individuals have conducted preliminary screenings 21,314 have enrolled in standalone dental plans 87,514 have been found eligible for a subsidy to purchase a qualified health plan (some have yet to select a plan) 805,602 calls have been handled by the kynect contact center For further updates on kynect numbers, visit governor.ky.gov/healthierky. Statistics will be updated there regularly.
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