Last Chance to Enroll in Marketplace Health Plans

The March 31 deadline for uninsured residents to enroll in Marketplace health insurance plans is rapidly approaching. For the convenience of last minute insurance shoppers, Enroll Lake County! is extending its hours at several enrollment locations. On Sunday, March 30, the West Field Office, at 2 E Rollins Road in Round Lake Beach, will be open from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Additionally, on Monday, March 31, the Waukegan Public Library, at 128 N. County Street in Waukegan, will remain open until midnight. The United Methodist Church at 848 Main Street in Antioch will also be open from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. Navigators will be available at all three locations to help individuals and families learn about their health insurance options, shop the health insurance Marketplace, and enroll for health care insurance. Walk-in appointments will be available, but residents are encouraged to call the Enroll Lake County! phone line at 847-377-4999 in advance to schedule an appointment for assistance.

Spearheaded by the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center, Enroll Lake County! is the initiative working to educate and enroll Lake County residents in new health insurance programs available through the Affordable Care Act. Individuals and families eligible to purchase insurance on the health insurance Marketplace have until March 31, 2014 to enroll in a health insurance plan. For those eligible for Medicaid, there is no end date for enrollment. Enroll Lake County! navigators will remain available beyond March 31 to assist people applying for Medicaid on an ongoing basis.

Through the Enroll Lake County! initiative, nearly 80 specially trained and certified counselors, called navigators, are available at 28 sites throughout Lake County to assist, answer questions and work with residents to enroll for health insurance. Their services are completely free. Since October, Enroll Lake County! navigators have educated more than 16,000 individuals and helped more than 5,500 complete applications.

Under the Affordable Care Act, thousands of Illinoisans who were previously unable to get insurance can now get covered. There are several ways for residents to enroll for health insurance:

• Visit GetCoveredIllinois.gov

• Call Enroll Lake County! at: 847-377-4999 for assistance or to schedule an appointment with a local navigator at no charge

• Call the Get Covered Illinois Help Desk at 866-311-1119

To find the location, use our Enroll Lake County map. For information about other Enroll Lake County! community events and enrollment site locations, visit: EnrollLakeCounty.com or GetcoveredIllinois.gov/events.