AFFORDABLE CARE ACT INFORMATION SESSION IN HAMPTON ON OCTOBER 17

To help area residents better understand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and provide support and assistance to people who want to enroll for coverage, the Lane Memorial Library in Hampton will host a free information session on October 17.

Under the ACA, individuals without health insurance or with individual coverage can enroll for coverage through the new Health Insurance Marketplace. Subsidies are available through the exchange marketplace for those at 100 percent to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. This means that individuals with incomes between $11,490 and $45,960, or a family of four making with household income from $23,550 to $94,000 will be eligible to receive a subsidy from the federal government that will reduce the cost of the premiums they will have to pay for coverage.

Entitled “The Affordable Care Act: What Does it Mean to Me?,” the session will feature representatives of the New Hampshire Department of Insurance and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as representatives from the Lane Library and Families First Health & Support Center, the community health center in Portsmouth. The meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m. at the library, located at 2 Academy Avenue in Hampton. Admission is free, and there is no need to pre-register.

“The library has been an important resource for members of the community to obtain information and assistance in preparing their taxes for many years now” added Amanda Reynolds Cooper, Director of the Hampton Lane Memorial Library. “We hope to be able to provide that same service to the members of our community when it comes to the ACA. Not only will we have forms and brochures available, but people without access to a computer at home will be able to access on-line information through one of the 12 computers we have available for use by the public.”

In addition to presenting information at the Oct. 17 event, Families First will soon begin having an enrollment counselor on-site in the library at scheduled times to answer questions and offer hands-on assistance with enrollment. Check the library’s website for times.

State Representatives Robert “Renny” Cushing and Chris Muns of Hampton, and Elaine Ahearn of Hampton, Hampton Falls and Seabrook, are helping to organize the event on October 17. “The ACA is changing the way that health insurance is purchased in our state” said Rep Muns. “Representatives Ahearn, Cushing and I are very happy that Families First and the Lane Library are taking the lead to make sure that the community has access to resources and expertise that will help individuals and families successfully navigate these new procedures. We encourage anyone with questions to attend this session on the 17th.”

For directions and facility information, contact the Lane Memorial Library in Hampton at (603) 926-3368 or check the library website atwww.lanememoriallibrary.org.