Indianapolis, October 3, 2013 — As the federal health insurance marketplace opens for enrollment, Wishard-Eskenazi Health will play a vital role in helping eligible Central Indiana residents access new health insurance options. As one of four Indiana organizations selected by the Department of Health and Human Services to serve as navigators for the state’s federally facilitated marketplace as part of the Affordable Care Act, Wishard-Eskenazi Health will provide information and assistance to individuals and families eligible for the exchange, helping them understand and select new insurance coverage options.
“Our opportunity to serve as navigators for the implementation of the new health insurance marketplace extends our ability to positively affect the health of the community and support access to quality care for all,” said Dr. Lisa Harris, CEO and medical director at Wishard-Eskenazi Health.
Wishard-Eskenazi Health has added a staff of navigators to implement the program, and a toll-free phone number — .855.202.1053 — will be used to connect residents with staff who can answer questions and provide assistance in using the online marketplace.
“Among those who are currently without health coverage, the implementation of health care reform is creating a great deal of excitement as well as many questions,” said Gordon Jaye, director of patient access at Wishard-Eskenazi Health. “Wishard-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.”
Wishard-Eskenazi Health and Eskenazi Health Center have launched a public education and awareness campaign to direct the public to call for information and coverage. The campaign includes outdoor billboards throughout Indianapolis, as well as advertising with local newspapers and radio stations.
“For more than 150 years, the role of Wishard-Eskenazi Health has been to connect people with quality care, primarily through our Indiana University School of Medicine faculty physicians and caring staff at the hospital and nearly 30 primary and mental health care sites throughout Indianapolis,” said Jaye. “Today we further expand that role by providing unbiased, information and assistance in helping individuals and families without health coverage to answer questions and select the marketplace option that works best for them.”
Wishard-Eskenazi Health received a $590,985 grant to assist with the implementation costs of the navigator program.
The new health insurance marketplace is designed to provide uninsured Hoosiers with access to new plans being made available. Wishard-Eskenazi Health is participating in the MDWise and Anthem plans. Access may be facilitated for other plans that may be available as well, depending on the benefit coverage available through those plans. More information about the marketplace is available at https://www.healthcare.gov/.
In addition to calling Wishard-Eskenazi Health’s toll free number, prospective marketplace participants will also be advised to sign up for text and email updates from HealthCare.gov; gather information about household income; and set up a budget for how much they can afford to pay in premiums each month.
