PARKERSBURG – Representatives from the West Virginia Navigator and the West Virginia Tobacco Quitline will be in Parkersburg today to offer free, in-person assistance with enrolling and re-enrolling in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, as well as smoking cessation assistance.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today in the Fort Boreman Room of the Judge Donald F. Black Courthouse Annex at 317 Market St. No appointments are necessary; walk-ins will be accepted throughout the day.
The Affordable Care Act’s annual open enrollment period runs from November 1 through January 15. Last year, a record number of people signed up for health coverage through the Marketplace.
In West Virginia, more than nine out of 10 people who got their insurance through the Marketplace were eligible for a monthly subsidy to help them pay for the plan they chose, according to a release from West Virginia Navigator, a federally funded nonprofit program operated by First Choice Services.
“Many people will qualify for significantly lower costs this year if they get their insurance through the Marketplace,” said Jeremy Smith, programme director. “We encourage people to take a look at the new plans and prices that have been released this year.”
West Virginia still has an uninsured rate of nearly 6% and has one of the highest smoking rates in the country, Smith said.
“We know that people who have health insurance and are tobacco-free are healthier and have a better quality of life. We are pleased to partner with the Tobacco Quitline to try to help our communities be as happy and healthy as possible,” he said.
Tobacco Quitline representatives will also be on hand to assist community members who wish to enroll in the programme’s free tobacco cessation services.
Smith said he expects another record year for Marketplace enrollment in West Virginia, especially with the tightening of rules around West Virginia Medicaid in recent months. Now that the pandemic is over, more than 100,000 people in the state have lost Medicaid eligibility, but Smith said many are eligible for subsidised Marketplace insurance.
Four out of five people who get a plan on the marketplace can qualify for plans starting at under $10 a month, the release said.
For January 1 coverage, enrollment must be completed by December 15. Open enrolment ends completely on 15 January. People who already have a plan and need to re-enroll are encouraged to check the network and prescription drug coverage for any changes and update their information in case they qualify for additional cost savings.
