COFA

Ira Glass of This American Life talks about storytelling and vacationing in Hawaii; US gives more attention to Micronesia, but will it lead to a COFA extension?; IRS warns of scams and gives tips on protecting yourself during the holiday shopping season

The clock is winding down on three decades of U.S. financial aid to certain countries in the Northern Pacific region. U.S. economic assistance under the Compact of Free Association is set to expire in five years – dealing quite a blow to the health care systems in three Pacific Island nations. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

Micronesians are Hawaiʻi’s newest and fastest growing immigrant population. For more than 30 years, citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, moved to Hawaiʻi to seek greater opportunities for employment and education. And now, the voice of the next generation of this immigrant population is emerging. HPR’s Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi reports.

State Pensions on Path to Solvency; Challenges to COFA Immigrants; Making Drinking Water Out of Thin Air

This coming Veterans’ Day, we will likely hear stories of service from those who have been to the frontlines of war. As America honors those who served in the U.S. military, the conversation also centers on how the U.S. can serve its veterans.  HPR Reporter Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi shares the story of an often overlooked group of veterans who are hoping the country they served will return that obligation.

Governor David Ige announced an extension to allow more time to sign up for health care under the Affordable Care Act. The special enrollment period will apply to Hawai‘i residents from countries of the Compact of Free Association, including Micronesia. The state now has until February 15 to enroll the 6000 COFA citizens who still need insurance. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports.

The clock is ticking for Hawai‘i residents who want to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The deadline is tomorrow and the state is scrambling to sign people up in time. That’s a special challenge for more than 7,500 Hawai‘i residents from countries of the Compact of Free Association, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports the transition hasn’t always been easy.

  Today on Town Square: Understanding the COFA Agreement – and getting to know the Micronesian community with Civil Beat’s Chad Blair. 5pm on HPR-2. 

Read his article The New Kids on the Block: A ‘Hidden Minority’ in Civil Beat 

Sunday is the deadline to sign up for health insurance through the Hawai‘i Health Connector. All week outreach workers have been at health clinics and community events in a final effort to reach the Micronesian community before the deadline. But as HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, not all of these events have gone as planned.

The deadline to enroll for insurance through the Affordable Care Act is this Sunday. That’s a special challenge for more than 7,500 immigrants from countries of the Compact of Free Association, including Micronesia. Starting March 1st, they’ll lose their Medicaid coverage, and will have to find insurance through the Hawai‘i Health Connector. HPR’s Molly Solomon reports on how the community is preparing for the shift.

The Hawai‘i Health Connector events for COFA residents are as follows:

Oahu

It’s been 2 months since the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Micronesian health care benefits reverberated through the community. The court’s decision ruled in favor of the state, no longer requiring Hawaii to fund Medicaid for migrants from the island nations in Micronesia. But as HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, for many the future still remains uncertain.