Health Insurance Marketplace Opening Celebrated in Bangor
Consumers Encouraged to Enroll for Health Insurance Coverage
Penobscot Community Health Care (PCHC) and Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) invite you to join the Bangor kickoff campaign to educate Maine people about the new Health Insurance Marketplace on the opening day of enrollment, October 1st. Other kick-off events are being hosted in Lewiston, Portland, Presque Isle, and Waterville.
As part of the Affordable Care Act, Health Insurance Marketplaces will be offering quality, affordable health care plans for Maine people. Mainers are encouraged to visit HealthCare.gov to complete the streamlined application and enroll in a plan, enroll207.com to learn more about the specific health insurance plans available to them, or the Kaiser Family Foundation Website to view a video about the Affordable Care Act and how the marketplace works. The Maine Health Insurance Marketplace includes new health plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, as well as Maine’s new nonprofit health insurer, Maine Community Health Options.
What: Health Insurance Marketplace Kick-Off Event
Where: PCHC Administrative Services Center, 103 Maine Avenue, Bangor
When: Tuesday, October 1st at Noon
Maine FQHCs received grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) making it possible for health centers to assist the uninsured with enrolling in quality health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. PCHC’s Health Insurance Marketplace outreach and enrollment efforts will be led by Shawn Yardley, MS, Director of Community Services, who states, “PCHC is excited to be a resource to our patients and anyone needing health insurance. This is the long awaited opportunity allowing uninsured to access, through the Marketplace, essential health benefits including preventive and wellness services, chronic disease management, prescription drugs, behavioral health treatment, laboratory services, and 7 other key benefits. “
PCHC will be working with MeHAF and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), among others, to educate the public about the marketplace and encourage enrollment which runs October 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014. Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) and the Maine Lobstermen’s Association have trained certified assisters to help Maine people and small business understand and enroll in the new health plans.