Katherlyn Geter of Erlanger Health System speaks to attendees, most of them Affordable Care Act navigators at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department in Chattanooga during a community forum about the Affordable Care Act.Need help?Navigators and certified application counselors are like "shopping assistants." To receive free assistance from certified Navigators, consumers need to bring proof of identity, have Social Security numbers and birth dates for all members in the household, and proof of income.Here are some helpers in the Chattanooga area:• Medical Foundation of Chattanooga - 1917 E. Third St. 423-622-2872• Southside Community Health Center - 100 E. 37th St., 423-778-2700• Dodson Avenue Community Health Center - 1200 Dodson Ave., 423-778-2800Upcoming enrollment events• Dec. 6: Cleveland Public Library, 795 Church Street NE, Cleveland - 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.• Dec. 9: Polk County Public Library, 126 Polk St., Benton - 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
As Black Friday kicks off, shopping for health insurance is also starting to picking up steam.
The Medical Foundation of Chattanooga, the largest local navigator group, has been slammed with "back-to-back appointments," said Nancy Ridge, with the foundation.
"We're booked out through the first week of December."
The deadline is Dec. 15 to sign up for coverage starting Jan. 1.
American Exchange, a Chattanooga-based broker that specializes in exchange coverage, has also seen "two and a half times" the call volume that the company saw last year, said Chief Operating Officer Andrew Hetzler.
At BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee headquarters, "call volumes are high and we're seeing very strong interest in our plans from existing members and new customers," said spokeswoman Mary Danielson.
She said it is too early to get a clear picture of what plans or carriers consumers are choosing, and added that the company will not be releasing numbers until after Dec 15. She said BlueCross plans are still "among the most affordable in Tennessee," with the widest options for price range and provider networks.
Those on the front lines of enrollment efforts say several factors are contributing to the steady clip of sign-ups so far: This year's open enrollment period, lasting until Feb. 15, is much shorter than last year's; and Healthcare.gov is actually working.
"There were a few glitches the first day, but since then it has all been really smooth," Hetzler said. "Some calls can still take a while because you're talking about health insurance, which is obviously complicated. But the website hasn't been the hold-up."
He said the average call to sign someone up on a plan now takes an average of 18 to 20 minutes.
PLAN CHANGESBelow are monthly premium price increases for a few exchange plans in the Chattanooga regionBlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee26 Year old, Silver plan, Network E2014 - $144.372015 - $173.1240 Year old, Silver plan, Network E2014 - $180.182015 -$216.07Cigna26 Year old, Silver plan2014 - $228.902015 - $249.7640 Year old, Silver plan2014 - $288.482015 - $317.56Sources: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Tennessee Dept. of Commerce and Insurance
Many of those who enrolled on the exchanges the first two weeks are repeat customers from last year, both brokers and navigators say. And so far, many of them say they want to switch plans or even insurance companies after receiving renewal notices from their current insurer that showed their premiums going up.
BlueCross, which captured 88 percent of Tennessee's exchange market last year, raised premiums an average of 19 percent, while Cigna has raised its premiums an average of 7 percent.
"People are shopping around this time, and seeing what better deals they might find," Ridge said. "The main thing we're telling the people is to not just look at price points - look at the whole picture."
Plans with lower premiums usually come with trade-offs like higher deductibles and cost-sharing, and possibly smaller doctor networks.
A newcomer in Chattanooga's market, Community Health Alliance, is proving to be an increasingly popular choice for low-premium plans, both navigators and brokers say.
"Enrollment throughout the state is strong, including in Chattanooga," said Jerry Burgess, CEO of Community Health Alliance. "It is too early to give numbers, but there are a lot of new people coming into the market, but there are also a lot of people switching plans."
Loans from the Department of Health and Human Services helped create nonprofit co-ops such as the alliance, which are intended to increase competition and options on the exchanges.
This year, Community Health Alliance expanded to all 95 counties, and is offering plans with some of the lowest premiums in most of the state's rating areas. Chattanooga's CHA network includes Erlanger and Parkridge hospitals and has a narrower physician network than some insurers do. It is also Tennessee-based, covering only emergency care in other states.
Chattanooga resident Benny Hallum, 63, switched plans after his BlueCross bronze plan premium went up 23 percent, but he stayed with BlueCross.
His new premium is 11 percent higher than his last one and has a higher deductible and out-of-pocket maximum.
"My main concern was making sure I had a plan that would let me stay with my main doctor," said Hallum, who is retired.
Hallum wanted to get the switch done as quickly as possible as the holiday season approaches.
"Now I can worry about other things," he said, laughing.
Contact staff writer Kate Harrison Belz at kbelz@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6673.