CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System will host a free “Rock and Enroll” Health Insurance Enrollment Event from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3101 Kennedy Lane, Suite 1200, Texarkana, TX.
Certified Application Counselors will be on site to help guide participants through the enrollment process and determine if they qualify for insurance premium assistance. To determine qualification for premium assistance, participants must bring a pay stub from 2016 or a 2015 Tax Return. Persons who are not U.S. citizens must provide proof of legal residence.
ArkLaTex Council of Governments Agency (ATCOG) is offering a Premium Support Program with grant funding provided by CHRISTUS St. Michael. The program is designed to help families and individuals pay premium costs for health care coverage.
Arkansas residents who meet the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines do not qualify for Premium Support because their premium costs are already covered through the expansion of Medicaid in Arkansas, also referred to as the private option.
“Residents from our region need to remember the deadline for enrollment in an insurance plan is Jan. 31, 2017, to avoid tax penalties that will occur for those who do not enroll,” said Father Lawrence Chellaian, CHRISTUS St. Michael Vice President of Mission Integration. “The goal of the event is to empower people from our area with the knowledge to make informed health insurance decisions in line with America’s health care law, the Affordable Care Act,” he explained. “Certified Application Counselors will be available at the event to educate individuals and families about their health care coverage options, help them enroll or re-enroll and help them determine if they qualify for financial assistance.”
“Benefits of having health insurance include less financial exposure for families because hospitalization and emergency services are covered,” Stacye Magness, CHRISTUS St. Michael Marketing and Communications Coordinator, explained. “Health insurance provides individuals and families reassurance with expanded opportunity to access health care when needed.”
