This Sunday, November 1, marks the first day of the third open enrollment period of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), allowing Texans to enroll in quality, affordable health coverage, or renew their plan or shop for a new and better option on the Health Insurance Marketplace.
To mark the grand opening, local in-person assisters will provide free enrollment help at MHP Salud, where Texans can walk in and receive face-to-face help with the application process.
WHAT: Enroll RGV Sunday Funday Enrollment Event
WHERE: MHP Salud Office, 3102 E. Business 83 Suite G, Weslaco, Texas
WHEN: Sunday, November 1, 2015, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHO: Get Covered America, MHP Salud, and other partners of Enroll RGV
Get Covered America, MHP Salud, and other partners in the Enroll RGV coalition will educate the Rio Grande Valley residents on their new options under the ACA and in-person assisters will help Texans enroll on site for free. Walk-in appointments are available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Texans can also schedule appointments by calling 956-246-4125 or visiting GetCoveredAmerica.org/connector.
Enroll America is the nation’s leading health care enrollment coalition. An independent nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, Enroll America works with more than 6,700 partners in all 50 states to create cutting-edge tools, analyze data, inform policy, and share best practices in service of its mission: maximizing the number of Americans who enroll in and retain health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
The Get Covered America campaign was created in 2013 to inform millions of eligible consumers about their new health insurance options, and has been tested, refined, and proven successful through two enrollment cycles. Get Covered America programs and tools are now being utilized by partners in enrollment efforts nationwide, supported by more than 100 Enroll America staff working both nationally and on-the-ground in targeted communities across the country.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), almost half of the eligible uninsured are between the ages of 18 and 34. Also, despite historic gains in coverage, Latinos and African Americans are still more likely to be uninsured than their white counterparts. According to a PerryUndem survey conducted earlier this year, 88 percent of the employed uninsured are hourly workers, and 54 percent of the overall uninsured have recently used a safety net service like an unemployment office, a food bank, or a low cost clinic.
The good news is that during the third open enrollment period, which starts November 1 and ends January 31, uninsured Texans will be able to enter the Health Insurance Marketplace and select a plan that fits their needs and budget. Americans who currently have coverage through the Marketplace will also have an opportunity to shop for new options available and find the best plan for them. For many Texans, affordability is a real concern in their health care decision-making. In the past, high premium costs have forced many to go without health insurance simply because they couldn’t afford it. The good news is that financial assistance is available, and 85 percent of Texas Marketplace enrollees received financial assistance to help them pay for their monthly premium, making their plan more affordable.
This third enrollment period is an opportunity to not only gain access to quality affordable health care, but also a chance for Texans to avoid paying a fine when they file their taxes. Those who do not enroll in a plan by the deadline of January 31, 2016, could face a fine of $695 or 2.5 percent of yearly income, whichever is greater.
In-person assisters are asking consumers to bring the following to the Sunday enrollment event:
1.Social Security Numbers or document numbers for immigrants;
2.Employer name and phone number, and income information for every member of your household who is working or has income and needs coverage;
3.Policy numbers for current health insurance plans covering members of your household.
