By Cheryl Relaford, Patient Account Manager at Sheridan Memorial Hospital
November 2019
Healthcare costs can be scary. When you lack health insurance coverage, you find yourself worrying what will happen if you or a family member becomes ill. You avoid taking preventative care measures because you have fears about, not only the financial burden, but also what the test may reveal. But there is a solution. Sheridan Memorial Hospital can help. Plan to drop by the hospital’s downtown location, 61 South Gould, on November 14 from 5:30-7:30 pm for free help navigating the marketplace. Details can be found at the bottom of this story.
Background
Marketplace insurance allows for the protection of you and your family. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 established the insurance marketplace as a means to achieve maximum compliance with the mandate that all Americans carry some form of health insurance. Open Enrollment is currently taking place until December 15. Purchasing marketplace insurance gives you the opportunity to have essential health benefits to help you afford doctor visits, preventative care, hospitalization, prescriptions and more. These insurance plans cannot deny coverage because of pre-existin or chronic conditions, like cancer or diabetes and women and men cannot be charged different premiums.
When you explore the marketplace options at Healthcare.gov, you can find affordable health insurance coverage. You may qualify for tax credits which lower your monthly premiums as well as your out-of-pocket costs. Most people who apply can qualify for savings that the Marketplace offers. Having health insurance gives you an opportunity to provide the necessary protection for you and your family, by helping you establish access to preventative care and early detection to keep your health on the right path.
Insurance obtained through Marketplace Open Enrollment becomes effective January 1st, 2020. Begin preparing for the next chapter in your life by starting 2020 with the security that you have health insurance.
Where to find help
If you’d like to learn more and take the fright out of healthcare costs, visit Healthcare.gov. You can also contact a Sheridan Memorial Hospital Financial Advocate, who is also a Certified Application Counselor, to help you navigate the marketplace. To reach a Sheridan Memorial Hospital Financial Advocate call 307-675-4620 or email financialadvocates@sheridanhospital.org.
If you are unsure about how to get started or need help, we invite you to join us for our Health Talk: Open Enrollment event on Thursday, November 14th from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Sheridan Memorial Hospital will host the event in the Community Conference Room at its downtown location: 61 S. Gould St. Certified Application Counselors from the hospital who are trained in the Insurance Marketplace enrollment process will be available to speak with you. This service is free and open to the community and there will be hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
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