On March 15, the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health campus will host a special opportunity for eligible Central Indiana residents to access new health insurance options through the state’s federally facilitated marketplace. Marketplace open enrollment ends March 31 for 2014.
Enroll Indianapolis Day at Eskenazi Health will allow the public to learn about options offered through the Affordable Care Act and to sign up on-site for one of the marketplace insurance plans. The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital, 720 Eskenazi Ave. Free parking will be available in the Eskenazi Health Parking Garage.
“This event offers a wonderful opportunity for our navigators to assist hundreds of people all in one day and at one location to be part of the new health insurance marketplace,” said Dr. Lisa Harris, chief executive officer at Eskenazi Health.
Eskenazi Health has added a staff of navigators to implement the program, and a toll-free phone number – 1.855.202.1053 – has been used to connect residents with staff who can answer questions and provide assistance in using the online marketplace. Thousands of Hoosiers have already been assisted by navigators at Eskenazi Health.
Over 70 navigators are expected to be available for consumers to work with at the March 15 Enroll Indianapolis Day at Eskenazi Health. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is also assisting with the event. Marketplace open enrollment ends March 31 for 2014.
In October 2013, Eskenazi Health and Eskenazi Health Center launched a public education and awareness campaign to direct the public to call for information and coverage. Eskenazi Health received a $590,985 grant to assist with the implementation costs of the navigator program.
“Among those who are currently without health coverage, the implementation of health care reform has created a great deal of excitement as well as many questions,” said Gordon Jaye, director of Eskenazi Health Patient Access Services and Financial Eligibility Services. “Eskenazi Health and Eskenazi Health Center have been selected to be an official source for answers, and it’s a role we are happy to fill as we seek to further access to quality care for all in our community.”
The new health insurance marketplace is designed to provide uninsured Hoosiers with access to new plans being made available. Eskenazi Health is participating in the MDwise and Anthem plans. Eskenazi Health navigators assist consumers about all plan options that may be available regardless of whether Eskenazi Health is a participant.
More information about the marketplace is available at healthcare.gov. In addition, information about Enroll Indianapolis Day at Eskenazi Health may be obtained by calling Indiana 211 at 211 or Eskenazi Health at 1-855-202-1053.
