UPCOMING EVENTSTuesday — An information session about the enrollment process will be held at the Southside Community Health Center, 100 E. 37th St., from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The public can learn what the new law means for them, documentation needed to determine eligibility, and the assistance available to help navigate the entire process including enrollment sites. It also will offer a tutorial on the categories of the exchange plans.Saturday — American Exchange, a broker that specializes in insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, will host its first of several community enrollment events at Liberty Tax, 1213 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is sponsored by the Glenwood Neighborhood Association.WHERE DO I START?Go online at HealthCare.gov and create a user name to get the process started. Find helpful information from the Kaiser Family Foundation at kff.org.In the Chattanooga area, find personal assistance at the following locations: Southside Community Health Center, 100 E 37th St.Dodson Ave. Community Health Center, 1200 Dodson Ave.Children’s Urgent Care, 910 Blackford St.Erlanger Health System, 975 E. Third St.Metropolitan Ministries, 1112 McCallie Ave.Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Society, 1917 E. Third St.Homeless Health Care Center, 717 E. 11th St.Hamilton County Health Department general information, 209-8375In North Georgia: Primary Health Care Center of Trenton, 13570 N. Main St.Primary Health Care Center of Rossville, 1430 Suggs St.Primary Health Care school-based center, Tiger Creek Elementary School, 134 Rhea McClanahan
For months now, Oct. 1 has loomed as the pivotal date for the Affordable Care Act.
Tuesday is the day the health exchanges — the federally run online marketplaces where people can shop for insurance — are supposed to go live.
Potential shoppers who have computer access, who are Internet-savvy and have command over tax and income information should be able to log on to the government’s main website, HealthCare.gov, and start the enrollment process right away.
But those in the Chattanooga area who need one-on-one help from a counselor will likely have to wait longer than Oct. 1 to sign up.