The Affordable Care Act begins its second annual open enrollment period on November 15, 2014.
Enroll Brazos Valley Coalition, a group of local health care organizations, is working together to increase awareness among the more than 25,000 Brazos Valley residents who are likely eligible for subsidized health care coverage.
The 120 day enrollment period ends in February and a variety of local educational and enrollment assistance events are being scheduled across the region.
Vice President for Marketing and Communications of St. Joseph’s, Tim Ottinger, said the coalition’s new website providing local residents information about where they can go to either learn about the insurances available through the Federal Exchange, determine if they are eligible, or get assistance in signing up for a health plan.
Ottinger said individuals can also use the website to request an enrollment counselor to come and speak to groups or organizations about the process.
Members of the Coalition include HealthPoint Clinics, Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Health For All, Project Unity, Burleson Health Resource Center and St. Joseph Health System.
Ottinger said the the two main messages they are passing on to individuals are:
- The health care plan options
- Beginning in 2015, if residents don’t have health care coverage, they will pay a penalty of either 2% of their annual income, or $325 per adult, whichever is higher.
Click below for comments from Tim Ottinger, visiting with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber.