NC Navigators offer free ACA guidance in wake of COVID-19

Press release from the NC Navigator Consortium:

March 23 marked the 10th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act’s passage into law. Over the last ten years, the law has provided comprehensive, affordable health coverage for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians.

North Carolinians who have lost their coverage due to the Coronavirus pandemic are eligible to enroll in coverage on HealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act. This special enrollment period is available for a period of 60 days from the consumer’s initial loss of coverage. Any Marketplace coverage will cover the consumer through the remainder of 2020 unless they enroll in other coverage. Those who have questions or need help enrolling in Marketplace coverage can call 1-855-733-3711 (toll-free) or visit ncnavigator.net to schedule a free, over-the-phone appointment with an NC Navigator.

“For 10 years, the Affordable Care Act has provided so many North Carolinians with the peace of mind that comes with health coverage,” Mark Van Arnam, director of the NC Navigator Consortium, said. “As navigators, we are proud to have played a part in this effort and hope we can continue enrolling North Carolinians in affordable coverage for decades to come.”

“This anniversary comes at a poignant time for the Affordable Care Act, as untold numbers of North Carolinians stand to lose their private health coverage due to the Coronavirus. We want to make it easy for folks who have lost coverage due to this pandemic to get covered. Call us or visit our website to book an over-the-phone appointment, or just to find additional Coronavirus resources. We are here to help. Time is limited for those affected to enroll, so it is important that folks act quickly,” Van Arnam said.

Consumers can call 855-733-3711 or visit ncnavigator.net to schedule a free, confidential, one-on-one phone appointment with an NC Navigator.

NC Navigators are trained to help consumers enroll in coverage on HealthCare.gov. They can help consumers understand the details of the different plans, complete the enrollment process and determine their eligibility for financial assistance. Last year, nine in 10 North Carolinians who enrolled in coverage on HealthCare.gov received financial assistance, with the average premium being $68.10.

In addition to residents who have lost coverage due to the Coronavirus, North Carolinians can still enroll in 2020 coverage on HealthCare.gov if they experience certain other life changes, like getting married or divorced, having a baby or adopting a child, moving, or losing health coverage. Learn more at: https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage-outside-open-enrollment/special-enrollment-period/.

NC Navigators are available throughout the year and can help consumers determine if they qualify for any Special Enrollment Period.

SHARE
About Community Bulletin
Mountain Xpress posts selected news and information of local interest as a public service for our readers. To submit press releases and other community material for possible publication, email news@mountainx.com.

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.