Mercy Health-Youngstown offers free sign-up help in Youngstown, Boardman, Warren

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

With the Feb. 15 enrollment date for 2015 coverage under the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance Marketplace and Ohio Medicaid Expansion, Mercy Health-Youngstown is offering sign-up events for both programs.

The Affordable Care Act has provided many with the opportunity to access health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, and experts with Mercy Health-Youngstown will be available at no cost to help people sign up for insurance, hospital officials said.

Certified application counselors and licensed navigators from Mercy Health-Youngstown will answer questions, help people create their marketplace or Ohio Medicaid accounts, and walk them through insurance options at locations throughout the Mahoning Valley on these dates and times:

Tuesday, 2 to 6 p.m., St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, Woodland Room, 8401 Market St.

Next Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Youngstown Room, 1044 Belmont Ave.

Jan. 30, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Joseph Warren Hospital, Warren Room, 667 Eastland Ave.

The events hosted by Mercy Health-Youngstown are open to anyone looking for health care coverage. To register, call 330-373-0703 or 877-918-5400.

Once attendance is confirmed, information required will be: Social Security number or document number for legal immigrants; birth date; pay stub, W-2 form or wage and tax statements; policy numbers for any current health insurance; and information about any health insurance an individual or family could get through a job.

All marketplace plans provide essential health benefits and cover pre-existing conditions and preventive care. Some offer dental coverage. Patients can explore options, prepare to apply and sign up for marketplace updates by going to HealthCare.gov.

In addition, free help to enroll is available by calling Access Health Mahoning Valley headquartered at 330-373-0703, where trained navigators can help review plans and complete online applications Monday through Friday at locations in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

Most people will qualify for premium tax credits, which can reduce the monthly premium by 50 percent of the cost or more. Others may qualify for no-cost coverage through Ohio’s Medicaid program, said Bill Adams, director of Access Health Mahoning Valley.

Navigator help from Access Health Mahoning Valley is funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services administered in Ohio by the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.