A collaboration called Enroll Calhoun County is beginning a series of public information sessions to help local residents navigate the national Healthcare Marketplace, starting Monday, December 1. For more information, call 269-341-6104.

According to the organization's press release, several sessions are planned:

Open enrollment in the 2015 national Healthcare Marketplace is underway. Several Calhoun County organizations have teamed up to help people who need insurance navigate through the enrollment process. Enroll Calhoun County is providing free, in-person assistance during a series of upcoming events. Guidance will also be available for those who enrolled through the marketplace last year and need to renew their health insurance for 2015.
 
Certified Application Counselors will be available during walk-in events and by appointment to offer free one-on-one help to answer questions about plan selection, cost, provider options, and to help navigate the healthcare.gov website.
 
Those seeking insurance should be aware of important deadlines for 2015 coverage:
 
Open enrollment period is November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015: If you haven’t enrolled in coverage by February 15, you generally can’t buy Healthcare Marketplace health insurance coverage for 2015, and may have to pay a significant fee. 
 
Renewals and/or updating coverage deadline is December 15, 2014: Anyone who purchased insurance through the Marketplace in 2014 will be automatically renewed into a comparable plan for 2015 unless a new plan is selected by December 15. It’s important to compare plans and update information through healthcare.gov as pricing has changed and to ensure tax credits are calculated correctly for 2015. Also, coverage for plans purchased in 2014 will expire on December 31.
 
If you are new to the marketplace you must enroll prior to December 15 for coverage to begin January 1. After December 15 the first available date for coverage is February 1.
 
Enroll Calhoun County encourages those who want help with renewals or for signing-up  for health insurance to attend one of these upcoming events:
Bronson Battle Creek Outpatient Center
300 North Ave. (Enter through Outpatient Center entrance)
·         December 1,    2-6 p.m.
·         December 15, 2-6 p.m.
·         January 12,      2-6 p.m.
 
Regional Manufacturing Technology Center (RMTC)
405 Hill Brady Rd., Battle Creek (Located within Fort Custer Industrial Park)
·         December 9,    3-7 p.m.
·         January 20,      3-7 p.m.
·         February 10,    3-7 p.m.
 
Attendees will need to provide a social security number or document number for immigrants. They will also need to bring estimated income information for 2015 and policy numbers for any current health insurance plan they may already have. No appointment is necessary for walk in events.
 
About Enroll Calhoun County
Enroll Calhoun County is a collaborative effort to improve access to healthcare through the coordination of education and outreach activities. The organization provides coordination for community agencies engaged in education and healthcare enrollment activities related to Health Insurance Marketplaces and Medicaid Expansion.
Contact Enroll Calhoun County by calling (269) 341-6104, or visit on Facebook at facebook.com/Enroll.Calhoun.County.
Enroll Calhoun County partners include: Albion Health Alliance, Area Agency on Aging Region 3b, Battle Creek Community Foundation, Bronson Healthcare Group, Community Healthcare Connections, Family Health Center of Battle Creek, Marshall Fountain Clinic, Michigan Primary Care Association, Senior Services, SHARE Center, Summit Pointe, Regional Health Alliance, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, and 211.

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