Learn the Facts About the Affodable Care Act

The public is invited to take an hour of time and learn the facts about the Affordable Care Act on Wednesday, Nov. 13, which has been designated as Enroll Lake County! Day. The event will take place from noon to 1 p.m. in the Bradbury Room of the Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County Street in downtown Waukegan.

Speakers include Moraine Township Supervisor Anne Flanigan Bassi, a navigator who is focused on enrolling residents who live and work in southeast Lake County, Tony Beltran, the Executive Director of the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center and other local government leaders from the county and township levels who will discuss enrollment efforts and available resources. Navigators will be on hand to answer questions about the enrollment process.

An additional Enroll Lake County! Day event will take place at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington Street in Grayslake. From 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., navigators will be handing out materials and answering questions in Anderson Court.

Enroll Lake County! is an initiative lead by the Health Department and the Alliance for Human Services that includes 27 community-based organizations, faith and civic groups, library networks, schools, business representatives, hospitals and primary care providers. The initiative has trained over 60 navigators who are certified to provide individual enrollment assistance to Lake County residents. These navigators are located at agencies throughout the county. Appointments are available in English, Spanish, and additional languages. For information on scheduling an appointment, call: (847) 377-4999 or visit our website at: EnrollLakeCounty.com.

Approximately 70,000 Lake County residents are uninsured. Residents whose household income is 138 percent or less of the federal poverty guideline, or about $27,000 for a family of three in 2013, are eligible for the expanded Medicaid program. Those with higher incomes may be eligible for subsidies to help offset the cost of health insurance based on a sliding income scale. You may be able to get financial help to pay for a health insurance plan.

For more details about the Affordable Care Act, visit: EnrollLakeCounty.com or GetCoveredIllinois.gov.