Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth and Governor Quinn Announce ACA Open Enrollment at News Conference

On November 13, Governor Pat Quinn and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle kicked off the second year of open enrollment for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at a news conference at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center (PSMEMC).

The announcement was part of Governor Quinn’s agenda to ensure that all people in Illinois have access to quality health care. Martin Judd, Regional President and CEO, PSMEMC, welcomed attendees during the news conference.

“We are here today because of the tireless support and hard work of Governor Quinn and Cook County Board President Preckwinkle,” Judd said. ”From day one, they have been strong advocates of the Affordable Care Act – which has helped thousands of uninsured residents in Cook County and our great State of Illinois to gain access to health insurance coverage through the Marketplace and Medicaid expansion.”

This year, Presence Health is partnering with Enroll America, a nonprofit organization focused on maximizing the number of Americans who are enrolled in and retain health coverage. Presence Health is also partnering with several in-person counselors (IPCs) from trusted community partners, such as PrimeCare Community Health and the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, to help answer questions and enroll people in health insurance plans.

Open enrollment at PSMEMC
PSMEMC held an all-day open enrollment kick-off event on November 15 at the Saint Mary Campus – enrolling 43 consumers. Onsite that day were navigators fluent in Spanish, Polish, Ukrainian and Russian to help community residents compare plans and enroll. Navigators have completed training and the certification process to become certified application counselors. Open enrollment to sign up for health plans began November 15 and will end February 15, 2015.

The medical center will provide ongoing on-site office hours for enrollment on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Saint Mary Campus, first floor lobby. Appointments are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 312-770-3736 to ensure fluent enrollment assistors will be available and that consumers bring required documents to complete enrollment.

For information or to schedule appointments, community residents can visit presencehealth.org/marketplace, or contact Presence Health at cac@presencehealth.org or 312-770-3736.

In the photo: Martin Judd (at the podium), Regional President and CEO, PSMEMC, welcomes participants during the recent news conference, along with Governor Pat Quinn (right) and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (left).