Choosing Health Insurance Plans on the Marketplace Can Be Confusing. Free Help is Available

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, Nov. 10 -- The Maine Behavioral Healthcare issued the following news release:

The open enrollment period for selecting health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace is under way, and MaineHealth wants people to know that many affordable plans - including some with $0 premium options - are available. MaineHealth is offering free assistance to sort through all the options and the enrollment process.

"Accessing health care services can be difficult for people without health insurance," says Carol Zechman, Director of the Access to Care Program at MaineHealth. "With many free-premium options available this year, we want to ensure that all eligible Mainers receive health insurance coverage that can help them stay healthy. Our CarePartners counselors can assist people in finding a plan that works for them."

Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment is November 1-December 15, 2017. Just a few weeks remain to sign up for coverage effective January 1, 2018.

MaineHealth has free counselors available through its CarePartners program at 1-877-626-1684 to help people review their options for health insurance, apply, and enroll through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Individuals can speak with a certified application counselor or to set up an appointment for enrollment assistance. People who are currently enrolled in a plan but would like help evaluating the options available for 2018 are also encouraged to call 1-877-626-1684.

Last year, more than 75,000 Mainers had health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace and 85 percent received financial assistance to make the plans more affordable. Zechman's goal is to make sure that every eligible person gets insured this year. "There are zero-premium plans available this year. There's just no reason that any Mainer should be without health insurance," she said.

CarePartners counselors are available Mon-Fri from 8:00-5:00 PM at 1-877-626-1684. Assistance is also available 24/7 from the Health Insurance Marketplace at 1-800-318-2596. To enroll now, visit www.healthcare.gov.

This document was posted showing the date: Nov. 9, 2017