Waukegan library can help you get insurance

Time is running out to get covered with a health insurance plan by the deadline. Open enrollment in health insurance plans through the Marketplace ends Sunday, Jan. 31.

To help residents get covered by the deadline, Waukegan Public Library will stay open until 11 p.m. Jan. 31 to ensure that all appointments are completed on time. But there's no need to wait until the last minute; free appointments with certified navigators are available now at locations throughout Lake County. Navigators will help find the best plan for residents' needs and budgets.

This year, it's especially important for residents to get health insurance coverage by the Jan. 31 deadline, or face a penalty when filing their tax returns.

"Waukegan Public Library is committed to serving our community however we can, like staying open late for the open enrollment deadline," Waukegan Public Library Executive Director Richard Lee said.

"One area of focus for us is community health. Our Health Awareness program gives students the tools they need to understand the health care system, access the care they need, and advocate for their own health and well-being. Being part of Enroll Lake County! for this third year is a natural extension of that."

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, in partnership with the Waukegan Public Library, is coordinating with four local agencies for the third year of the Enroll Lake County! project: A Safe Place, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center, Moraine Township, and the YWCA Lake County.

Free appointments in English and Spanish are available at each location by calling (847) 775-2582 or (847) 377-4999, or going online at getcoveredillinois.gov and entering the proper ZIP code.

Since November 2015, Enroll Lake County! has helped more than 873 Lake County residents enroll in health insurance plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace or Medicaid.

This project is funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health and is part of the Get Covered Illinois initiative.

For more information, contact Tatiana Alonso, program manager for Enroll Lake County! at (847) 775-2565.