“I know firsthand how access to quality health care affects the physical and spiritual well-being of our community,” offered Rev. Walter W. Matthews Sr. of the Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church during a recent church-based enrollment drive that kicked off during the first Sunday of Black History Month.
This initiative is part of Get Covered Illinois’ outreach efforts to enroll uninsured consumers in health insurance before the March 31 open enrollment deadline. Throughout February, more than 50 African-American churches will host events designed to inform and enroll uninsured community members, in addition to hundreds of other Get Covered Illinois enrollment events happening across the state.
He adds, “The African American faith community is proud to partner with Get Covered Illinois to provide uninsured residents with the enrollment assistance they need to secure affordable, comprehensive health coverage.”
Under the Affordable Care Act, thousands of Illinoisans who were previously unable to get insurance can now get covered. All plans included in the Marketplace must:
· Cover recommended preventive services free of charge
· Include a cap on out-of-pocket costs
· Have no lifetime or yearly dollar limit on coverage
· Not reject anyone on the basis of a pre-existing condition
Get Covered Illinois is urging health care consumers to take advantage of the assistance that is being offered via the web, over the phone and in person through hundreds of community partners across the state:
· Visit their website at getcoveredillinois.gov (includes a Spanish-language version).
· Call the Get Covered Illinois Help Desk at (866) 311-1119. Operators available daily from 8 am – 8 pm.
· Meet in person with a specially trained “Navigator” who can help you understand your options and even help you enroll at one of the hundreds of partner sites across the state. There are more than 1,500 Navigators that can be located by visiting the website and entering your zip code or through the Help Desk.
· Attend a Get Covered Illinois event. Visit getcoveredillinois.gov/events to find an event near you.
