lesson plan question

Hello I volunteer and teach english to adults.  I am planning on doing a lesson on how to fill out a health care enrollment form.  I am trying to think of a fun way to start off my engaging the students.  Since the only prop I have is the health care enrollment form I cant think of anyway to engage the students.  Any ideas would be appreciated

Comments

I like to start off a potentially difficult but necessary topic with a brainstorming or storytelling activity.  For example, I might ask students if they've ever completed a form to apply for something and, depending on the level, write words or sentences using the students' names to record their information and experience.  I would guide them into medical form terminology and make visible as much as they know.  Or I might put up the first sentence of a story: "Mike (our stuffed mascot) went to the doctor on Thursday. . . " and elicit prior knowledge in story form.  Then, when we segue to the form, we note and check off the items already mentioned and tackle what's new.  Another idea is to write a story myself and give it to the class as a listening exercise.  I announce the topic and setting and read it once, and then ask students to tell me what they could identify from what they heard.  Words and phrases go on the board.  I read it through at least 2 more times, adding to what's on the board.  Then I write the entire thing and we read it together, ask/answer questions, do as dictation, any number of things.  Forms are good for information gap activities also. I find student engagement in these types of activities is very strong. 

I like all of Deborah’s suggested activities. They get the students engaged with the form and they provide practice with listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

I would do one more activity and I would do it first.  I would build background on the topic of accessing health care in the United States by asking the students what their previous experience with accessing and paying for health care – in the US or where they lived before coming here – has been. Some students may have paid for health care at time of service, with or without filling out forms. Some may have received health care simply for living or working in a country and may not have had to fill forms or pay at time of service. Some may have practiced more traditional (less western?) medicine. And some may have had little or no access to health care in any shape or form.

In 2002, a health care expert and ESL instructor (and member of this CoP!), Kate Singleton, wrote an article on challenges for adult English language learners related to health care issues. The digest, Health Literacy and Adult English Language Learners, suggests classroom strategies and activities to help students build their English skills, their cultural competence around health care in the United States, and their knowledge about how to access the health care services they and their families need. The digest can be downloaded at http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/digests/healthlit.html. The topic of filling out forms is not addressed in this article however.

I scanned the LINCS resource collection to see if filling out forms is included in any of the health literacy and adult English language learner resources. I found the Queens Library Health Literacy Curriculum for ESOL Learners (2010).  It predates the Affordable Care Act, of course, but there are some activities in this resource that involve reading and filling out health forms. The curriculum is reviewed at   http://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-328  and can be downloaded at http://www.queenslibrary.org/services/health-info/english-for-your-health/teacher-beginner-level

This certainly is a timely topic for discussion!  What else is out there to help practitioners help adult English language learners with this topic?

Miriam

Hi Jannette,

I don't know of a particular lesson on filling out a health care enrollment form, but these health literacy resources may be useful:

The NYC Mayor's Office of Adult Education (MOAE) produced some helpful health literacy resources. These resources are better suited towards helping teachers understand the importance of health literacy (rather than providing lesson plan ideas): http://www.nyc.gov/html/adulted/html/get_involved/health.shtml

MOAE and City University of New York produced the "We Are New York" (WANY) television series that has some episodes on health literacy. WANY episodes can be viewed online or downloaded and include downloadable learning resources. Though the episodes highlight NYC services, the English learning component can apply to anyone: http://www.nyc.gov/html/adulted/html/get_involved/health.shtml

Hope these help.

 

Paul

I love Miriam's idea of discussing students' experiences with medical services in the US!  I recently taught a similar lesson and found that the students had confusing experiences they wanted to talk about and a whole lot of questions about how things work.  People were particularly concerned about whether or not there was a cost associated with calling an ambulance.  If you have access to News for You, the October 16 issue has a timely and informative article about the Affordable Care Act.

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The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for retirement and health benefit plans in private industry. ERISA does not require any employer to establish a plan. It only requires that those who establish plans must meet certain minimum standards.

ERISA covers retirement, health and other welfare benefit plans (e.g., life, disability and apprenticeship plans). Among other things, ERISA provides that those individuals who manage plans (and other fiduciaries) must meet certain standards of conduct. The law also contains detailed provisions for reporting to the government and disclosure to participants. There also are provisions aimed at assuring that plan funds are protected and that participants who qualify receive their benefits.

ERISA has also been expanded to include new health laws. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) amended ERISA to provide for the continuation of health care coverage for employees and their beneficiaries (for a limited period of time) if certain events would otherwise result in a reduction in benefits. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) amended ERISA to make health care coverage more portable and secure for employees.

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  • Part V - This set of FAQs addresses a variety of ACA implementation topics, the HIPAA nondiscrimination and wellness program rules, and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
  • Part VI - This set of FAQs addresses grandfathered health plans.
  • Part VII - This set of FAQs addresses the Summary of Benefits and Coverage and Uniform Glossary requirements of PHS Act §2715 and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
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  • Part IX* - This set of FAQs addresses the Summary of Benefits and Coverage requirements of PHS Act §2715.
  • Part X* - This FAQ addresses the Summary of Benefits and Coverage requirements of PHS Act §2715.
  • Part XI** - This set of FAQs addresses the employer notice of coverage options, health reimbursement arrangements, disclosure of information related to firearms, employer group waiver plans supplementing Medicare Part D, fixed indemnity insurance and payment of PCORI fees. Related information: CMS Bulletin on Non-Medicare Supplemental Drug Benefits. (**Note: See Technical Release 2013-03 for comprehensive guidance addressing health reimbursement arrangements that was issued after the date of these FAQs.)
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  • Part XIII - This set of FAQs addresses expatriate health plans.
  • Part XIV - This set of FAQs addresses the Summary of Benefits and Coverage requirements of PHS Act §2715 (* Note: Some of the guidance in FAQs Parts VIII, IX, and X has been superseded by guidance contained in FAQs Part XIV.)
  • Part XV - This set of FAQs addresses annual limit waiver expiration date based on a change to a plan or policy year, provider non-discrimination, coverage for individuals participating in approved clinical trials and transparency reporting.
  • Part XVI - This set of FAQs addresses the employer notice of coverage options and the 90-day waiting period limitation.
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2009 Form 5500 Revision

  • Final Rule – Annual Reporting and Disclosure – The final rules conform the Department's annual reporting regulations to the changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report
  • Notice of Adoption of Forms Revisions – The Notice of Adoption of Forms Revisions describes changes to the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report for reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2009, including a new Short Form 5500 (5500-SF) for eligible plans. Filers are cautioned that the forms appearing in the Federal Register are for information purposes only and cannot be used for filing. Filers should monitor the EFAST Website for information on approved software vendors for completing the 2008 and later forms and on the availability of the official government-printed forms
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  • Final Rule – Electronic Filing of Annual Reports – The Final Rule establishes an electronic filing requirement for the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report. The electronic filing requirement was deferred from reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, to reporting years beginning on or after January 1, 2009 by the Final Rule above under 2009 Form 5500 Revision

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General Fiduciary Compliance Assistance

Service Provider Disclosures Under Section 408(b)(2):

Fiduciary Requirements for Disclosure in Participant-Directed Individual Account Plans:

  • Guidance On Fiduciary Duties In Response To Recent Events Involving The Madoff Investment Firm - Guidance for fiduciaries, investment managers and other investment service providers to plans who believe they may have exposure to losses on investments with entities related to the Madoff firm. The guidance also provides steps that can be taken to assess and protect the interests of plans, participants and beneficiaries under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
  • Meeting Your Fiduciary Responsibilities – To meet their responsibilities as plan sponsors, employers need to understand some basic rules, specifically the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).  ERISA sets standards of conduct for those who manage an employee benefit plan and its assets (called fiduciaries).  This publication provides an overview of the basic fiduciary responsibilities applicable to retirement plans under the law
  • Understanding Retirement Plan Fees And Expenses – This booklet will help retirement plan sponsors better understand and evaluate their plan's fees and expenses.  While the focus is on fees and expenses involved with 401(k) plans, many of the principles discussed in the booklet also will have application to all types of retirement plans
  • 401(k) Plan Fee Disclosure Tool – A form developed by banking, insurance and mutual fund trade groups to provide employers with a way to collect and compare investment fees and administrative costs of competing providers of plan services, now available in MS Word format. This form was not developed by the Department and was not designed to ensure compliance with the Department's regulations on service provider fee disclosure to plans or plan fee disclosure to 401(k) plan participants and beneficiaries.
  • Selecting An Auditor For Your Employee Benefit Plan – Federal law requires employee benefit plans with 100 or more participants to have an audit as part of their obligation to file the Form 5500.  This booklet will assist plan administrators in selecting an auditor and reviewing the audit work and report
  • Reporting and Disclosure Guide for Employee Benefit Plans – This guide is intended to be used as a quick reference tool for certain basic reporting and disclosure requirements under ERISA
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  • ERISA Procedure 76-1: Filing Requests for Advisory Opinions/Information Letters – This ERISA procedure describes the general procedures of the department in issuing information letters and advisory opinions under the Act
  • Class Exemptions – A class exemption is an administrative "blanket" exemption, which permits a person to engage in a similar transaction or a series of similar transactions with plan in accordance with the terms and conditions of the class exemption, without requiring the person to obtain an individual exemption
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  • Exemption Procedures Under Federal Pension Law – This booklet provides information to employers, plan administrators and employee benefit practitioners about the basic requirements and procedures needed to apply for exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA
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  • Strategic Enforcement Plan (STEP) – Explains the general framework through which EBSA's enforcement resources may be focused to achieve the agency's policy and operational objectives
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Voluntary Correction Programs

Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program

The Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program (VFCP) encourages voluntary compliance by self-correcting violations of the law. The program also helps plan officials understand the law and gives immediate relief from payment of excise taxes under a class exemption.

Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program

The Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) encourages voluntary compliance with ERISAs annual reporting requirements and gives delinquent plan administrators a way to avoid higher civil penalty assessments by satisfying the program’s requirements and voluntarily paying a reduced penalty.

Effective March 29, 2011, the address for the Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program (DFVCP) lockbox changed to: DFVC DOL, PO Box 71361, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1361. Do not send by express mail. There is no overnight delivery address. Note that submissions to the DFVCP also can be done electronically.

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Abandoned Plan Program

The Abandoned Plan Program facilitates the termination of, and distribution of benefits from, individual account pension plans that have been abandoned by their sponsoring employers.  The program was established pursuant to three final regulations and a related class exemption and is administered by EBSA national and regional offices.

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