Get assistance with enrolling in health care insurance
The deadline for open enrollment for the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace is Feb. 15. Consumers who do not enroll in a health plan by the deadline may face a tax penalty when filing their 2015 tax return.
VNA Health Care offers free Health Insurance and Medicaid enrollment assistance at 801 Villa St. in Elgin.
VNA Health Care's certified navigators can answer questions about who is eligible for the expanded Medicaid program, what is offered and how to get coverage on the Illinois Marketplace, and other benefits available. There is no charge for their assistance.
Call the Navigator hotline at (630) 482-8130 for free phone assistance or to set up an appointment at any VNA location. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
What to bring to enroll in benefits:
• Social Security numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants): noncitizens who do not qualify are able to apply for family members who meet the qualified noncitizen rules.
• Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage (for example, from pay stubs or W-2 forms - Wage and Tax Statements)
• Permanent resident card, even if you haven't lived in the U.S. for five years you can still purchase insurance through the Marketplace and you may be eligible for discounts and/or tax savings.
• 2013 tax return (or 2014 if available)
The upcoming enrollment sessions are:
• Weekdays, through Feb. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at DHS Family Community Resource Center, 361 W. Old Indian Trail in Aurora.
• Wednesday, Feb. 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rush Copley Medical Center, 2000 Ogden Ave. in Aurora.
• Wednesday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 5, 5:15 to 8 p.m. at Food for Greater Elgin, 1553 Commerce Drive in Elgin.
• Thursday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, 1110 Jericho Road in Aurora.
• Thursday, Feb. 5, 9 a.m. to noon at Community Crisis Center, 37 Geneva St. in Elgin.
• Thursday, Feb. 5, with the Kane County Department of Employment & Education at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin.
• Thursday, Feb. 5, 5 to 7 p.m. at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin.
• Friday, Feb. 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Presence Health, 1325 N. Highland Ave., Building 1, Aurora.
• Friday, Feb. 6, 3 to 6 p.m. at Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, 355 Dundee Ave. in Elgin.
• Saturday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Aurora Public Library, 1 E. Benton St.
• Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6-7, from noon to 6 p.m. at Westfield Mall (Fox Valley Mall), upper level near JC Penney, 195 Fox Valley Center in Aurora.
• Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Aurora Township Youth Center, 313 Gale St. in Aurora.
Walk in during hours listed at the local clinics or for an appointment, call (630) 482-8130.
• VNA Health Center, 400 N. Highland Ave., Aurora, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.
• VNA Health Center, 1400 Indian Ave., Aurora, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, and Thursday to Saturday.
• VNA Partner Location, Family Counseling Service of Aurora, 70 S. River St., Aurora, (630) 844-2662, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
• VNA Health Center, 620 Wing St., Elgin: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
• VNA Health Center, 801 Villa St., Elgin: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday to Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
VNA Health Care provides affordable health care to 65,000 women, men and children living primarily in Kane, DuPage, and Will counties. VNA, which operates nine community health centers, is nationally ranked as a top performing health center as a result of patient outcomes such as high quality prenatal care, control of diabetes, and up-to-date immunizations for children. VNA's combination of convenience (by appointment or walk-in), patient-centered technology and expert care delivered with respect and compassion have led to these results.
In addition to the health centers, VNA offers home care and hospice services. VNA is accredited by The Joint Commission. VNA is very committed to helping the uninsured in our area enroll in the expanded Medicaid program as well as the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace. To assist in this work, it has applied for and received three grants to hire over 50 full and part-time Illinois Assisters and Navigators.