Hey Advocate Family and Friends!!!
Yes, I have been busy making my rounds, but you knew, just KNEW I would not forget my advocate friends here who labored so darn hard for this season -- didn't we?!
So, here's what I have been doing to spread the word about the open enrollment for the Healthcare Market Place Enrollment opening day October 1, 2013.
I have been participating in the free webinars by the Small Business Administration at
www.sba.com. They are held on Thursdays at 2:00 p.m., EST. These are very informative and simple to understand. I have been blogging at
www.aggyschoice.blogspot.com, and keep reading for other great sites. Here is the latest newsletter I published (go 'head and take what you can...).
"There are many free events around town in preparation for the start of the Healthcare Market Place beginning on October 1, 2013. Thank you, Maryland CONGRESSMAN ELIJAH CUMMINGS for hosting quite an informative community Obamacare Healthcare Exchange workshop on Saturday, September 14, 2013, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST (Breakfast and a scrumptious lunch was served!). The workshop covered broad information about the healthcare marketplace enrollment for individuals, families, and small businesses. There were panel discussions and Q&A following. Important information included phone numbers for you to get your questions answered person-to-person. That included the Healthcare Market Place call center (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/09/03/watch-live-former-president-bill-clinton-explains-affordable-care-act?utm_source=snapshot&utm_medium=email&utm_content=090513-topper); (www.marketplace.cms.gov); (www.mhchc.com); (www.healthcareforthehomeless.com).
Would you believe I called on Sunday at 2:00 p.m., and asked all types of questions about enrollment and the essential benefits that must be offered (i.e., mental healthcare, lab work, ambulatory services, hospital stay, maternity, prescriptions, rehabilitation, etc...) and this kind lady had all the right answers! I was like, "How do you do that?" So, my point is, if you are worried, this call center is available 24 hours, 7 days a week for person-to-person instructions and information. They provide accurate information. The contact number is (800) 318-2596. Then share this information in your home, community, workplace, church, etc. to help keep everybody calm. (smile). By the way, if you currently receive Medicare, you are not eligible for the healthcare exchange so you can help others who have no insurance at all. If you currently receive Medicaid, you are about to see those benefits expand. If you were not eligible for Medicaid before, you may be eligible because of the healthcare exchange. Breathe, everybody, breathe!
The Maryland Call Center can be contacted at (855) 642-8572 and operates Monday through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., EST for person-to-person instructions and to answer your questions. Did you know that Maryland is currently leading the nation with embracing, operating, and planning for enrolling members? Kudos! In addition, here are some important websites to visit for even more information: Health Insurance Market Place, Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers (MACH), and Enroll America (www.enrollamerica.com) This website will show you all the 'pockets' in your state where there are populations of uninsured persons needing healthcare! They are counting on us to help enroll them! Also, among the many presenters and panelists at the Obamacare Healthcare Exchange Workshop, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown was present to share some important highlights about the Exchange! The faith community was represented by B.U.I.L.D. Board of Directors' member Bishop Douglas Miles who urged the local churches to do outreach efforts to enroll members, the elderly, and the homeless in the community. He is using healthcare ambassadors to assist churches. For more information, contact Roseanna or Susan Miles at (410) 235-9000. Bishop Miles also called for churches to allow homeless persons to use the church's mailing address for healthcare enrollment. Speaking of which, Barbara Capitro, Policy Director of Healthcare for the Homeless, announced a campaign to enroll homeless persons into Obamacare. Learn ways we can help to enroll homeless persons by supporting Healthcare for the Homeless by visiting their website! Ms. Capitro stated that Healthcare for the Homeless will also be participating in the United Way's Project Homeless Connect on September 19th!
This is an exciting time in history and if we reach out to those we know who are uninsured, we will all benefit in the long run! Maryland currently has an estimated 700,000 persons uninsured right now. It's all about taking advantage of Obamacare for ourselves, our families, our businesses, and showing others the way. Check out how great a savings is on the horizon. If you earn approximately $15,000 annually, your monthly healthcare cost could be approximately $25.47 per month and the government covers the remaining cost. Primary care includes mental healthcare, behavior care, substance abuse, prescriptions, ambulatory care, rehabilitation, and pre-existing conditions; for example. We will be covering the enrollment step-by-step in the next few weeks together, too!
Ok, family what's you state doing? Let's get the word and no-how to young adults as well. If that example above applies to them, theyhave no, NO need to worry about being responsible and obtaining health insurance for themselves.
Ok, these are some great websites. The MACHC website also has some toolkits available for outreach enrollment efforts. Let's show the uninsured the way.....
Passing the brotherly love,
Posted By: agnes levine
Monday, September 16th 2013 at 3:55PM
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