Salina Health Insurance Enrollment Event Planned

A health insurance information and enrollment event will be held in Salina next week.

The Cover Kansas Navigator Project will be hosting a Health Insurance Marketplace Information and Enrollment event from 11 am – 6 pm, December 5, at Salina Family Healthcare Center. 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.

Open Enrollment began November 1 and runs through December 15, 2017. “Due to the large number of people needing to enroll within the shorter 45 day enrollment period this year, we encourage Kansans to get enrolled sooner rather than later,” said Debbie Berndsen, Cover Kansas Navigator Project Director. This event is one of several enrollment events happening statewide. Find the complete schedule of events at coverks.org. Those unable to attend an event are encouraged to make an appointment with a certified Navigator by calling 2-1-1 or by visiting coverks.org.

“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,” Berndsen said.

Those planning to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace will need to provide the following basic information about their family and household:

Names, birth dates and Social Security numbers for everyone in the household
Projected household income for 2018
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 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. Additional funding is provided in part by the Kansas Health Foundation and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.