By Jesse Wood
Feb. 10, 2015. For those waiting until the last minute to enroll in a health insurance plan to satisfy Obamacare, BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina scheduled a five-hour event on the last day of enrollment for 2015 to assist those looking for coverage.
On Friday, Feb. 15, the Daniel Boone Optimist Clubhouse, located near the ball fields at 1012 State Farm Road in Boone, hosts the enrollment event that will “give residents an opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, learn about subsidy eligibility and enroll in a health insurance plan for 2015,” according to a release.
The event takes place from 2 to 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
This is part of a series of BlueCross BlueShield of NC events across the sate where folks can learn about the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and about the enrollment or re-enrollment process.
BlueCross BlueShield NC is among three companies that provide health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
For more information about this event, call BCBS of NC at 800-446-8053.
Other Places To Seek Assistance
The enrollment deadline to purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace ends on Feb. 15.
This is the last date that someone can receive federal subsidies – unless they qualify for the special enrollment period due to a life-changing event or special hardship.
Eric Schneider, an outreach and eligibility specialist with High Country Community Health, said that there are a number of options for people seeking help navigating the new healthcare landscape.
Schneider said that High Country Community Health has as a bilingual navigator, Sabrina, who can be reached at 828-292-0769. Scheider is still available for individual appointments and can be reached at 828-773-7297.
In addition, volunteers at the Watauga County Public Library, which can be reached at 828-264-8784, and the Watauga County Project on Aging, which can be reached at 828-265-8090, are able to help people navigate the enrollment process.
On Feb. 10, Legal Aid of NC will have a team of navigators in Newland to help people enroll.
Schneider encourages people to begin this enrollment process as soon as possible and not wait until the Feb. 10 deadline to begin – just in case difficulties are encountered.
Open enrollment began in November and will soon close before opening again later in the year. See this need-to-know list for the 2015 enrollment process that Schneider compiled and High Country Press published late last year.
Schneider clarified that his office isn’t allowed to help people with their taxes – only to help them enroll in the marketplace.
To learn more about the ramifications of not getting health insurance or to enroll, click to a previous article or www.healthcare.gov.
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