Be Covered Texas Campaign and 86 Dallas Churches to Hold "Super Sunday" Education Event to Highlight the Importance of Enrolling in Health Insurance

News provided by

Jan 14, 2015, 04:00 ET

RICHARDSON, Texas, Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing efforts to increase Texans' access to health insurance, the Be Covered Texas campaign is working with 86 churches across the Dallas area to host "Super Sunday" outreach events on Sunday, January 18. At the events, Be Covered will provide educational materials about the importance of health insurance and how to enroll before the annual enrollment period closes on February 15. The Super Sunday effort is expected to reach approximately 55,000 congregation members.

Be Covered Texas, a grassroots education and outreach campaign sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), offers free, bilingual resources online (www.becoveredtexas.org) and through its statewide network of more than 175 community partners, including 72 partners in Dallas.

"Be Covered Texas continues to work to reach Texans where they live, work, worship and gather to spread the word about enrollment opportunities," said Michelle Riddell, Be Covered Texas campaign chair and BCBSTX vice president of community investment. "The Super Sunday events allow us to reach a large group of community members with relevant, timely information to help them make an informed decision about protecting their family's health."

Congregations at 86 metroplex churches are participating in the event, including True Lee Baptist Church, St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church and New Hope Baptist Church.

"By working with Be Covered Texas and participating in the Super Sunday event, we are able to provide our congregation with access to educational materials about the health insurance law, how to enroll and the importance of having health insurance," said Dr. Michael Bowie, pastor, St. Luke "Community" United Methodist Church.

"The health of an individual determines the health, vitality, and strength of a nation. As a Be Covered Texas partner we support the efforts in Texas to ensure that all have access to affordable care. On Super Sunday we will join with our faith friends as one voice to help spread the enrollment news," Rev. Ronald E. Jones, senior pastor, New Hope Baptist Church.

During the first year of the campaign, Be Covered Texas worked with its community partners to directly reach 3.29 million people across the state through community events, outreach and distribution of educational materials. The campaign also reached 7.7 million through online and social media outreach. A full list of campaign results can be found at www.becoveredtexas.org.

For more information and to view of the Be Covered Texas resource library, please visit www.becoveredtexas.org.

About Be Covered Texas
Be Covered Texas is an education and outreach campaign that helps Texans benefit from new health insurance opportunities. The campaign reaches people where they live, work, learn, worship, text and tweet to help uninsured Texans understand how to access individual health insurance options, and newly insured Texans how to most effectively use their health care coverage. The campaign and its 175 community partners work with individuals and organizations to provide user-friendly bilingual information and community support with the ultimate goal of helping Texans "Be Covered." The campaign is fully funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. www.becoveredtexas.org | twitter.com/becovered | facebook.com/becovered.org

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and 500 hospitals to serve 5 million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma and New Mexico), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSTX.com | Twitter.com/BCBSTX | Facebook.com/BlueCrossBlueShieldOfTexas | YouTube