Word of mouth, website, help pick up SC enrollment in ACA
By Joey Holleman, The State (Columbia, S.C.) | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
She felt much better Wednesday after a visit to the S.C. Progressive Network's
"As far as I'm concerned, it was the best thing ever," Gates said. "I told my Bible study about it, and three said they're going to sign up."
With the
The local Navigator agencies, who received federal grants to help people sign up, include the
"The more places people have to sign up, the better," Liszewski said. "We want to be where people are, not have them have to come to where we are."
People also can sign up on their own on healthcare.gov, or they can work with independent insurance agents certified for the ACA marketplace. The four companies offering policies on the marketplace --
After a slow start in October because of the well-publicized problems with healthcare.gov, Liszewski directed about 10 people through the process in November. He said things started going more smoothly nearly four weeks ago for people like him who know how to get around in the system. He has multiple appointments each day this week.
Now, the slowdowns come when people signing up don't have all of the personal identification or financial records they need, he said. One hurdle is specific to
Gates, 59, set up an appointment with Liszewski, arrived around
After Liszewski explained the three different levels of coverage -- bronze, silver and gold -- and provided other details on individual plans, Gates decided on a silver plan that would have low deductible and out-of-pocket expenses.
The plan would have cost in the range of
Next year, she can visit those doctors with a small co-pay, and an emergency room visit won't be financially ruinous.
Liszewski, 54, hasn't had insurance himself for 11 years, and he knew he needed to look into a policy even before the new law's mandate for insurance in 2014. "I'm pretty sure I'll blow a gasket sooner than later," he said.
Because of his pay, he qualifies for a tax credit. He chose a silver-level plan, and his premium, after the tax credit, will be
And because he hasn't been going to a doctor, he didn't worry much about the plan's physician network. He will start looking for a local doctor on the network early next year, the first step in the health maintenance effort he knows people in their 50s really need.
Liszewski said many of the people asking local Navigators for help have been in the gap left when state leaders turned down the expansion of
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