Open enrollment for health-care coverage runs through Dec. 15

By David Skolnick | November 7, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Open enrollment for healthcare coverage through the Affordable Care Act runs through Dec. 15, and a group of local legislators highlighted the importance of signing up.

Coverage could be as little as $50 to $100 a month because about 80 percent of those who sign up qualify for financial assistance, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, said Monday.

To enroll, go to healthcare.gov. Those with questions or in need of assistance can call 800-318-2596 or visit localhelp.healthcare.gov to talk to a trained professional.

“This program is for working-class people putting in 40, 50, 60 hours a week and yet can’t afford health care,” Ryan said.

“We want to give them the opportunity to get it. The government will help people who make under $90,000 a year to be able to get a little bit of help to afford it and [people] should take advantage of it.”

Ryan added: “To me, we are a very wealthy country. Everybody should have access to affordable health care and access to prevention and the kind of treatments that they need regardless of their circumstances and what ZIP code they live in and what they make a year. People need to understand this is for people who are working. This program is designed for people who are working but still can’t get health care. It helps them access it. It helps them afford it and it helps them have protection with policies that won’t allow insurance companies to give them a very expensive plan that doesn’t necessarily have very good coverage.”

Joining Ryan at a Monday event at the Mahoning County Courthouse to highlight the open- enrollment period were state Reps.

Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th, and John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th.

“News coming out of D.C. would make you think healthcare.gov is shut down,” Lepore-Hagan said, who added: “The news of health care’s demise is frankly fake news. Healthcare.gov is open for business, and it’s easy to sign up.”

“It is so important we continue this fight to give people access to health care,” Boccieri said.