Should you still sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act? YES
Crossposted from Public Health Insider
Ever since the election, people are wondering whether their health insurance coverage will survive next year, if the Affordable Care Act (sometimes called “Obamacare”) is targeted for repeal.
The short answer is, Yes. Your insurance should stay the same all through 2017, whether you are enrolled through the Washington Health Benefit Exchange or through Washington Apple Health (Medicaid).
Open Enrollment has already started, for people with incomes that qualify for discounted plans on the Exchange. There are two deadlines coming up. The first deadline – to complete an application for coverage that starts in January – will be December 15th. The final deadline is January 31, 2017.
People who buy coverage now should feel confident that it is good for all of 2017 – no matter what happens.
Read more at Public Health Insider
Share this:
King County partners with emergency responders for rescue training
Crossposted from King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Over four days in early Nov, area firefighters and wastewater employees participated in hands-on training in rescuing people from hard-to-reach, potentially hazardous spaces.
These “confined spaces” are defined by how hard it is to get in and out of them, and can have poor or even dangerous air quality.
Each day, about 12 firefighters participated in drills along with Brightwater treatment plant employees.
“It gives everyone – the firefighters and our plant employees – a chance to practice our procedures for responding to a potential emergency,” noted Jim Faccone, WTD’s Safety & Hazardous Materials Program Manager.
Read more at King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Share this:
Win a book of poetry; further the conversation about equity and social justice
This year an Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) project team in the Department of Natural Resources and Parks organized a series of four literary readings called “Reflecting on Race and Racism through Spoken Word, Story, and Conversation” that was open to all King County employees. The purpose was to provide a forum for employees to discuss issues of race and racism to help reject stereotypes, practice empathy, and come to a greater understanding of the roots of inequity and injustice that the county’s Equity and Social Justice Initiative seeks to address.
Following the presidential election, Executive Constantine recently reaffirmed the County’s commitment to equity and social justice:
“The tenor of this campaign has been toxic. It was fragmented and marginalized people. But King County is a place that values women, that values racial minorities and the disabled, that values immigrants and refugees, and people of every religion, or of no religion. Wherever you began your life, you are welcome here in our county.”
Part of that toxicity and marginalization happens when women, people of color, people of non-Christian faiths, and the disabled are not valued as full human beings, which often stems from stereotypes.
In her application to be part of ESJ literary series, writer Djenanway Se-Gahon referenced one of her favorite authors, Chimamanda Adichie, who warns that if we hear only a single story about a person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. Adichie says, “The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”
Share this:
Council adopts new investments for regional mobility in 2017-18 budget
Crossposted from Inside Transportation
After months of hard work, I want to thank the King County Council for embracing many of the Executive’s proposals and adopting our $1.9 billion biennial operating budget and $1.2 billion capital investment plan for 2017-2018.
The adopted budget makes significant investments in 88 Metro Transit bus routes to reduce crowding, improve reliability and increase the frequency of trips on key corridors. It includes infrastructure funding for 2017-18 and a six-year plan of capital investments outlined in Transit’s long range plan, METRO CONNECTS. The budget also invests in safety enhancements, workforce training, and better access to comfort stations.
Read more at Inside Transportation
Share this:
Become a King County Green School
Crossposted from Go, Green Team!
As of October 2016, fifty percent of K-12 schools in King County outside City of Seattle have received assistance, tools, and recognition from the King County Green Schools Program. Join these 248 schools and get help to engage your school community in improving waste reduction, recycling, and other conservation practices.
King County Green Schools Program provides assistance, school visits, and the resources and tools (including recycling containers and signs) schools need to make improvements. Sign up to participate.
Here are a few examples of what schools are doing to engage students and staff members in conservation practices.
Read more at Go, Green Team!
Share this:
Social Media Spotlight: King County Employee Giving Program
Thousands of ways to make a difference. Hundreds of nonprofit organizations. One Program. Learn more at www.kingcounty.gov/giving.
Follow King County Employee Giving Program on Facebook today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
Share this:
Featured Job: Track & ROW Chief
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 12/05/16 11:59 PM
Salary: $92,830.40 – $112,216.00 Annually
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Location: Operations & Maintenance Facility – 3407 Airport Way S, Seattle, Washington
Department: Department of Transportation – Transit Division
Description: This position is located in the Rail Operations section of the Transit Division and will be providing rail service on a 20.4 mile route alignment from the University of Washington Station to Angle Lake Station located at South 200th Street. This position’s main responsibilities include supervision of maintenance and support personnel in the proper inspection, service, repair, and maintenance of Track & Structures elements; development of and updates of Standard Maintenance Procedures and serves as the point of contact of all Track & Structures elements and controls within the department.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
Share this:
Kudos! ORCA LIFT gets shout out in New York Times
Transportation advocates in New York are pushing the city to consider a reduced-fair program similar to ORCA LIFT. The program received a mention in the New York Times for its success in charging residents with low incomes less to ride public transportation.
Share this:
Tech Tip: KCIT Problem Solvers, Episode 2: My MSFT Outlook is Broken!
The most frequent question into our KCIT Problem Solvers Call Center is… “My Outlook is Broken”. Problem Solver Brian Lencho explains how to fix Outlook or at least help him help you.
Share this:
BLS CPR (Health Care Provider) class added for December
Two additional classes have been added for Public Health certified staff who need to complete BLS CPR/AED certification before the end of the year. Register with maryalice.allenbach@kingcounty.gov:
- Wednesday, December 14 from 9 a.m. – noon, Downtown Public Health Center, fourth floor conference room
- Wednesday, December 14 from 1 – 4 p.m., Downtown Public Health Center, fourth floor conference room
Employee News 