Kaptur, Local Leaders Announce Open Enrollment Events in Lorain, Important Deadlines, ACA Updates

Local, Federal Officials Announce Ways to Get Covered in Lorain and Elyria

LORAIN, OH — Great news for Ohio consumers in 2016: affordable rates, more issuer choices, and improvements to the federal websites! The first important deadline for the Health Insurance Marketplace is less than two weeks away. Open enrollment for 2016 coverage runs from November 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016, but for coverage to start January 1, residents must sign up by December 15th. Residents can enroll at Healthcare.gov or at upcoming local events where trained professionals will be offering free and confidential assistance.

During a press conference today at Lorain County Health and Dentistry, local and federal officials announced new rates for 2016, new improvements to the federal website, new demographic information for the remaining uninsured,and new upcoming enrollment assistance events.

“The Affordable Care Act is making a difference in thelives of hundreds of thousands of Ohioans today,” said Congressman Marcy Kaptur. "Nationwide, about 17.6 million more consumers now have health coverage than before the ACA— the largest reduction in the uninsured in four decades. As organizations are holding enrollment events across the state next week, I encourage our citizens to take advantage of the in-person enrollment assistance being offered to help you find the health insurance plan that is best for you.”

Consumers returning to the Marketplace and new consumers to the Marketplace will find a smoother and quicker enrollment process. Several new features have been added to HealthCare.gov to help consumers easily shop for quality, affordable health care.

These features include the Out of Pocket Cost tool which helps consumers estimate the true cost of their health insurance based on premiums, deductibles, and anticipated health care service utilization. Other features include easier password reset, streamlined navigation, and simplified re-enrollment for returning consumers as well as the new Doctor and Prescription Drug Lookup features. These features provide consumers with easily searchable information about which doctors and which drugs plans may cover.

“Now is the time to shop!,” said US Dept. of Health and Human Services Region 5 Director Kathleen Falk. “Almost 6 in 10 Buckeyes will be able to buy a plan for $75 or less a month in premiums after tax credits, and over 8 out of 10 returning Buckeyes could save an average of $923 annually in premiums (before tax credits) for a plan in the same level of coverage by returning to shop.”

Falk was joined by Congresswoman Kaptur, Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer, Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda, Lorain County Health & Dentistry President & CEO Stephanie Wiersma, Mercy Regional Medical Center Manager H.E.L.P. Department Sarah Aroney, Lorain County Free Clinic Executive Director Paul Baumgartner as well as Sue Collins a local navigator for C.H.A.P.

“What a tremendous difference being covered makes in our lives,” remarked Falk. “But we know there are many more still without—and we are seeing that a lot are the working poor. Of the remaining uninsured who qualify for the Marketplace, more than 7 out of 10 are employed. Almost 40 percent of the uninsured are earning between 139 and 250 percent of the poverty level—which is about 30 to 60 thousand dollars a year for a family of four. In addition, almost half are between the ages of 18 and 34.”

Buckeyes have affordable options available to them. On average, rates in Ohio increased by 1% for plans in 2016, and in the broader Cleveland area, there was on average, a 7% decrease in rates.[1] For 2016, Ohio consumers can choose from 17 issuers, up from 16, and an average of 81 plans.

“To gain health coverage that starts January 1, people have less than two weeks to enroll. It is critically important that our residents are aware that they can sign up now,” said Lorain Mayor Chase Ritenauer. “We do not want anyone to have missed this opportunity.”

“There are many ways to enroll,” said Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda. “A consumer may shop on his or her own at HealthCare.gov or call the Are You Covered Ohio toll-free number 1-800-648-1176. Or you can enroll with the help of a trained professional at the Elyria City Health District. Assistance is free and confidential.”

“In our outreach efforts over the past couple of years, we’ve seen firsthand the real impact the Affordable Care Act has had in the lives of Lorain and Elyria residents,” said Lorain County Health and Dentistry President & CEO Stephanie Wiersma. “While the remaining uninsured will be harder to reach, we know that nearly 75% believe having health insurance is important, and we are ready to help them enroll.”

If you wish to enroll in-person with the help of a trained professional, Mercy Regional Medical Center will be hosting an enrollment event from 10am-3pm on December 12^th. You can RSVP by calling 877-918-5400. In Elyria, the Elyria City Health District will be hosting an enrollment event on December 15^th from 9am-3pm at 202 Chestnut Street.

“We are working hard to make it easier to get covered –in fact, you can even do so on your cell phone!—but it takes the hard work of leaders and partners in the community to get the word out,” said Falk. “That is why we are so grateful for the leadership and efforts of Congresswoman Kaptur, Mayors Ritenauer and Brinda, and the local ACA coalition.”

For more information on the Health Insurance Marketplace, please visit healthcare.gov and to find a local assister, please visit https://www.getcoveredamerica.org/connector. For customer service support, to start or finish an application, compare plans, enroll or ask a question, call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). For more USDHHS Region V updates, be sure to follow @HHSRegion5 on Twitter and use the hashtag #GetCovered.

Mercy ACA Enrollment Event