When It Comes to Open Enrollment, Let Hudson Health Plan Be Your Guide

First Session Takes Place in Tarrytown on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6pm

(Tarrytown, NY) … Signing up for health insurance during Open Enrollment can be a daunting experience. “Going online and making your way through the New York State of Health Marketplace® can be a lengthy process, and some people get confused or overwhelmed,” explains Mark Santiago, Vice President of Retail Outreach at MVP Health Care. But now individuals can easily get the help they need during Open Enrollment by registering for a free Guided Enrollment Session from Hudson Health Plan, an MVP Health Care company. During these sessions, members of the public will have access to computers, and Hudson’s Marketplace Facilitated Enrollers will lead them through the process. If someone gets stumped or doesn’t understand their insurance options, Hudson representatives can offer individual help.

“It’s much easier to enroll online when you are assisted by someone who knows the way around the site,” Mr. Santiago says. “It’s like filing your taxes. Yes, you can do it yourself, but you’re probably more confident when an expert advises you. Hudson Health Plan is using its health insurance expertise to guide people during Open Enrollment, and we are doing it at no-charge, as a community service.”

Open Enrollment begins November 15, 2014 and goes through February 15, 2015. During that period, individuals who need health insurance can enroll online for coverage in 2015. After the Open Enrollment period ends, individuals generally can’t buy Marketplace health coverage for 2015. (Exceptions include enrolling in Medicaid and Child Health Plus, in which you can enroll at any time, and if you have a Life Qualifying Event such as loss of income, a family addition, or have just moved to New York.) People who don’t have health coverage in 2015 can face stiff penalties of $325 per adult and $162.50 per child (up to $975 for a family), or 2% of family income, whichever is greater, in accordance with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

A Long Tradition of Enrollment Help

For more than 25 years, Hudson has helped individuals apply for Medicaid and Child Health Plus. When the ACA led to the launch of online health insurance exchanges in October 2013, Hudson began to enroll individuals using the New York State of Health Marketplace. During last year’s Open Enrollment period, Hudson met one-on-one with thousands of people in the Hudson Valley to help them use the Marketplace to gain coverage. But Hudson still couldn’t accommodate all of the demand. This year, Hudson developed the Guided Enrollment Sessions so that it could assist as many people as possible during Open Enrollment, particularly since this year’s Open Enrollment period lasts only three months.

“Hudson and MVP will continue to meet with people individually, but we’ll be able to greatly expand our reach by offering guided group sessions,” Mr. Santiago explains. “Guided Enrollment Sessions are designed to help enroll people who want a bit of support so they are confident they are filling everything out correctly. The sessions will also benefit people who don’t have easy access to a computer to enroll online.”

Hudson’s Guided Enrollment Sessions will be offered at Hudson’s offices in Tarrytown. Sessions are open to anyone eligible to enroll in the New York State of Health Marketplace. Individuals can choose to enroll in any qualified health plan offered on the exchange, and are not required to enroll in either Hudson Health Plan or MVP Health Care. Although the sessions are free, advanced registration is required. You can register online at http://www.hudsonhealthplan.org/visitors/how-to-apply-for-coverage/guided-enrollments/#sthash.srwtuxGE.dpuf or by calling 1-800-339-4557.

The first Guided Enrollment Session is scheduled for Tuesday, November 18, 2014 at Hudson’s enrollment office at 303 South Broadway (Ground Floor – G31) in Tarrytown. Future sessions will be posted at http://www.hudsonhealthplan.org/visitors/how-to-apply-for-coverage/guided-enrollments/#sthash.srwtuxGE.dpuf.