Barrow Medical Center: Open Enrollment Under the Affordable Care Act

As part of the Affordable Care Act, most US citizens are required under law to have health insurance.

Open enrollment began November 15, 2014 and will last until February 15, 2015. Call today to make an appointment with Barrow Regional Medical Center’s (BRMC) Application Coordinator: 770-307-5463.

As a service to our community, we can:

• help uninsured residents review coverage options on the Health Insurance Marketplace, or determine eligibility for Medicaid
• assist with re-enrollment
• assist with special enrollment due to a life change (marriage, divorce, new baby, loss of job, loss of coverage, etc.)

The Health Insurance Marketplace provides U.S. citizens access to affordable health insurance coverage. Depending on household income, some individuals may qualify for financial assistance from the government – or subsidies – towards the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like co-pays or deductibles.

All health plans on the Marketplace must offer a comprehensive set of benefits, and individuals cannot be denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition. Some of the health benefits include preventive care and wellness services, doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital and emergency department care, lab services, pediatric services – and more.

If you can afford health insurance coverage in 2015, but don’t sign up, you may have to pay a penalty ($325 per adult, $162.50 per child – up to $975/family or 2% of family income, whichever is higher). And, without insurance, you will be financially responsible for all of your medical costs.

This is where Barrow Regional Medical Center can help. With many people in our community lacking access to a computer or having difficulty enrolling on the government’s website (www.healthcare.gov), our application counselors can help. We can assist individuals and their families in evaluating the health plan options and determine if they are eligible for Medicaid or other financial assistance.

Even though Georgia has chosen not to expand Medicaid, there are still many individuals in our community who qualify for Medicaid coverage. We can help screen these individuals and if they qualify, we can enroll them at any time, with health coverage beginning immediately.

Though a major function of www.healthcare.gov is assessing whether individuals and families qualify for financial help to lower the cost of health insurance, BRMC’s application counselors can perform the same analysis and help with the sign-up process. To make an appointment to meet with an application counselor, call 770-307-5463.