The Jan. 31 deadline for signing up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act is approaching, but assistance with enrolling is available. The Cover Kansas Navigator Project will be hosting a Health Insurance Marketplace Information and Enrollment event from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat., Jan. 14, at Evergreen Neighborhood City Hall – 2700 N Woodland St – in Wichita. Certified Navigators will be on hand to personally assist individuals and families with the federally-facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace’s online application and enrollment process. Kansans without an offer of health insurance from an employer are encouraged to attend.
Attendees should bring basic information about their family and household, including:
· Names, birth dates and Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
· Projected household income for 2017
· Tax information, such as filing status and number of dependents
· Immigration documentation and supporting identification numbers
· A completed Employer Coverage Tool for every job-based plan that anyone in your household is eligible for
· An email address, which is required to create an online Marketplace account. Assistance can be provided for those who need to create one.
Many Kansans may be eligible for the Advanced Premium Tax Credits through the federal Marketplace. These credits help lower monthly insurance premiums. Some may also qualify for Cost Sharing Reductions, which lower the out-of-pocket costs associated with Marketplace plans.
The open enrollment period began November 1, 2016 and runs through January 31, 2017. This is one of several Information and Enrollment events that will be happening statewide. Those unable to attend an enrollment event in person are encouraged to make an appointment with a certified Navigator by calling 2-1-1 or by visiting coverks.org.
The Navigator Project is funded by a federal grant from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved (KAMU) is the grantee and lead agency for the Cover Kansas Consortium, which also includes the Kansas Hospital Education and Research Foundation, Kansas Association of Local Health Departments, Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, Health Reform Resource Project and the Kansas Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disabilities.
“Enrolling in health insurance can be difficult and overwhelming, but Cover Kansas Navigators have been certified by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to provide unbiased, in-person assistance that includes reviewing eligibility for financial assistance, comparing health insurance plans and helping consumers enroll in a plan that meets their needs,” said Debbie Berndsen, Cover Kansas Navigator Project Director.