East Brunswick Library To Host Open Enrollment Workshop

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — East Brunswick Public Library is teaming up with the Family Resource Network to host an online workshop on healthcare information.

"What You Need to Know: Health Insurance Open Enrollment in NJ" is an online workshop that will explain open enrollment for health insurance. Participants will learn about the different options available to them in New Jersey, as well as the state-based insurance exchange called ‘Get Covered NJ.’ Following each presentation, there will be a question-and-answer session.

In 2018, 27.9 million Americans said they did not have health insurance at any point during the year. This was an increase of nearly 500,000 from 2017, according to data from United States Census Bureau.

According to CMS.gov., one in five Americans with a pre-existing condition – 25 million individuals – is uninsured. But under the Affordable Care Act, beginning 2014, these Americans cannot be denied coverage. However, many obstacles remain.

The public library hopes that by providing information to the public, they will be in a better place to make a choice while enrolling for health insurance.

The workshop will be conducted by Renata Svincicka and Yamilet Zegarra.

Svincicka is the Community Health Manager at the Family Resource Network. She oversees the Navigator program and manages the day-to-day operations of the Health Innovations team. Svincicka earned her graduate degree in Public Administration of Health from The Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University and her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Kean University. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Public Health from Walden University.

Zegarra, is the Bilingual Navigator/ Resource Coordinator with a master's degree in Health Administrations, and Health Administration Certification, from Capella University. She obtained a bachelor's degree in Romance Languages and Latin Studies with a specialization degree in Medical English and Spanish Translation and Interpretation, and graduated from Hunter College.

She has also had the opportunity to work with primary care providers and patients in her dual role as Primary Care Patient Navigator and Medical Interpreter in Jamaica Hospital in New York City. Zegarra has worked with the Hispanic community for health insurance enrollment process as Health Coordinator and Community Health Worker in New Jersey since 2015.

The workshops will be offered in English and Spanish. The sessions will also be recorded for later viewing on the library's website.

This program is offered through the library's "Just For The Health Of It" consumer health and wellness initiative. Additional health programs and resources can be found online at www.justforthehealthofit.org.

The sessions will be conducted on Zoom four times - English on Monday, Nov. 16 at 12 p.m. and Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m., and in Spanish on Wednesday, Nov.18 at 12 p.m. and Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 12 p.m.

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