The enrollment period is now open for getting coverage from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The signup up period is just six weeks rather than twelve like previous years and ends December 15, 2017.
“People really need to go on and see what’s offered for 2018, especially this year with all the publicity and politics going on with it,” said Nancy Kucharz, a Certified Application Counselor with Eagle View Community Health System in Oquawka.
“You can see estimates of the 2018 plans and to be real honest they look pretty good as far as the tax credits and so forth that are being offered.”
She said the tax credits can help offset the rise in premium costs.
Eagle View is providing free and confidential assistance to those who want to enroll or re-enroll in the ACA or who have questions about their eligibility for the program. Eagle View’s phone number is 309-867-2202 or toll free at 877-350-2385, extension 234. The email address is enrollment@eagleviewhealth.org
Eagle View is also offering several tips:
- Review the information you receive from the Marketplace and/or your health insurance company.
- Update your application.
- Compare plans because there might be a plan that costs less and works better for your needs.
- Make sure you use the official site if you decide to enroll or renew on your own. The official site is HealthCare.gov
“A lot of people are looking up Obamacare. And what they’re finding is it’s not the actual HealthCare.gov and so then they’re receiving numerous phone calls from insurance agents and companies and so forth which really are not with the Affordable Care Act,” said Kucharz.
Yvonne Knapp, Coordinator of the Affordable Care Program for Eagle View and a Certified Application Counselor, said, “Please just give us a call and if we’re not the right person to talk with them or get them enrolled, we can certainly find out and make a referral. Eagle View is a federally recognized health center so even though our primary territory is Henderson, Mercer, and Warren counties … we can enroll people from (other areas).
“There are lots of different ways to get people enrolled. They just need to give us a call.”
