Affordable Care Act signup help available today for low-income Chattanooga residents

This photo provided by the Service Employees International Union shows people waiting to enter an Affordable Care Act enrollment event sponsored by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West and Community Coalition, in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, 2014.
This photo provided by the Service Employees International Union shows people waiting to enter an Affordable Care Act enrollment event sponsored by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West and Community Coalition, in Los Angeles on Nov. 15, 2014.

Low-income Chattanooga residents can get help signing up for health insurance on the federal marketplace during the last two weeks of open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

An enrollment event is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the East Lake Senior Building, 3208 15th Ave. Another enrollment event is set for Feb. 7 in Brainerd, according to a news release.

Consumers can sit down with trained experts to help them select the best plan. Schedule an appointment through the Get Covered Connector, 844-644-5443 or GetCoveredTenn.org, or just walk in. Consumers should bring their Social Security numbers and income information.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 184,000 Tennesseans had signed up for insurance though Jan. 16. That included more than 10,000 Hamilton County residents.

The deadline for open enrollment is Feb. 15. Low-income residents may qualify for tax credits to help buy insurance.

According to figures released this week, 83 percent of Tennesseans who selected a marketplace plan qualified for financial assistance, and three-quarters of Tennesseans who selected a plan during the first month could find coverage for less than $100 per month.

Anyone who does not have health insurance this year may face tax penalties.

Partners for the enrollment events included Get Covered America-Tennessee, Mayor Andy Berke's office, Erlanger Health System, the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society and Enroll the Region.

"We know that healthy residents mean healthy cities," Berke said in the news release. "That's why we are hard at work in Chattanooga, spreading the word about the health coverage options available to our citizens. I encourage all Chattanoogans in need of health care coverage or simply interested in learning more to attend an upcoming enrollment event. By working together, we can ensure a stronger, healthier city of Chattanooga."

Email press@enrollamerica.org to RSVP or for more information.

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