Kaptur and CareNet Urge Health Care Insurance Sign Up

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 14, 2017
Contact: Josh Stewart, (202) 225-4146 or Joshua.Stewart@mail.house.gov

Oregon, Ohio – U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) joined with Toledo-Lucas County CareNet to urge local consumers who need to change or initiate insurance coverage to take action before January 31^st. Kaptur joined CareNet officials at St. Charles Hospital to discuss the important deadline with local citizens and "navigators" who are available to assist individuals and families with Marketplace enrollment or Medicaid applications for healthcare coverage. Navigators provide services at no cost and are not paid for by any insurance carrier. Navigators are trained by the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services and licensed by the Ohio Department of Insurance.

A new report released this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that more than 12.2 million people nationwide were signed up for health insurance either through the Health Insurance Marketplace or their state's Basic Health Programs. HHS' report shows that in Ohio, 230,754 people are signed up so far for 2017 Marketplace coverage, more than at the same time last year. The report shows those Ohioans who have already signed up represent a wide spectrum of Ohio consumers including:

• 123,912 women and 106,187 men
• 27,903 children, 51,848 adults age 18-34, 71,439 adults age 35-54, and 78,909 over 55
• 51,869 rural Ohioans
• 58,039 new and 172,060 returning consumers

HHS' report also underscores the importance of financial assistance for Ohio consumers: 74% of those Ohioans signed up for Marketplace coverage thus far will receive advanced premium tax credits that lower their premiums by an average of $196 per month.

"The demand for health coverage continues, as Americans prove that Health Insurance Marketplace coverage is critical to individuals and families" said Kaptur. "The Affordable Care Act has ensured that millions of people can obtain health insurance regardless of gender, age, or pre-existing conditions. No one will lose coverage just because someone in the family got sick and no one can be subject to a lifetime cap on coverage. Children up to the age of 26—or in some cases in Ohio, 28—can remain on parents' health insurance plans if they have no access to coverage on their own. As many as 22 health screenings are covered at 100%. Older adults covered by Medicare are seeing the Part D private drug plan "donut hole" shrinking until its 2020 closure as a result of provisions under the ACA."

Kaptur urged people without insurance who have not yet signed up to stop by one of CareNet's navigator assistance sites or visit the website at www.healthcare.gov by Sunday January 15 to ensure coverage by February 1, 2017. Open enrollment continues through January 31, 2017 and CareNet offers a number of navigator locations for people needing assistance signing up for health care coverage. CareNet Assistant Director Julie Grasson encouraged "anyone who needs to obtain individual health insurance may come to St. Charles today until 7 pm to sit down with a navigator who can help you enroll in the best coverage for you. Additionally, there will be navigators at many sites throughout the area until January 31, 2017. Call United Way's 211 service or the Ohio Association of Foodbanks at 1-800-648-1176 to schedule an appointment."