METRO DIGEST || Marketplace insurance help at ValleyCare hospitals

Insurance help at ValleyCare hospitals

YOUNGSTOWN

Two important deadlines are fast approaching for consumers who have not yet signed up for health insurance through the government’s Health Insurance Marketplace.

A plan must be selected and the premium paid by Sunday to obtain coverage by Feb. 1; and for coverage effective March 1, the plan and premium must be finalized by Jan. 31.

ValleyCare Health System of Ohio offers free application assistance to help individuals evaluate insurance options on the Marketplace and complete their application forms.

To schedule an appointment with a certified application counselor at Northside Medical Center, call 330-884-2710, and at Trumbull Memorial Hospital, call 330-841-9335.

Increased penalties for 2017 are driving many newcomers to the Marketplace, as most individuals must choose between purchasing insurance and paying a fine of $695 per adult, $347.50 per child, and up to $2,085 per family or 2.5 percent of family income, whichever is higher.

Drug in greeting card

WARREN

Stephanie Iudiciani, 32, of Norquest Boulevard in Austintown, was arraigned this week on a felony charge of illegal conveyance into a detention facility and a misdemeanor drug-possession charge.

The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office says Iudiciani tried to smuggle the drug suboxone to an inmate at the county jail in August by putting it in a greeting card.

She pleaded not guilty and was released from the county jail after posting a $5,000 personal recognizance bond, meaning she didn’t have to pay anything.

Police assault

WARREN

Raheem A. Brantley, 30 of Johnstown, Pa., was convicted at trial Tuesday of assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest in an Oct. 19 incident in Brookfield Township.

He will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 24 by Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Police say Brantley assaulted Brookfield Police Chief Dan Faustino while trying to avoid arrest at the Subway restaurant on Warren-Sharon Road.

ALICE school training

AUSTINTOWN

Staff and administrators in Austintown schools will participate in ALICE training Jan. 20. ALICE is an acronym for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuation.

The training is intended to teach staff and administrators how to respond in an active shooter situation. Members of Austintown Police Department will conduct the training in each school building.