Two KCK health care enrollment information events to be held Saturday

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The Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace opens for enrollment in two days, providing uninsured Missourians with access to quality, affordable health coverage options. As consumers explore their 2015 health plan choices, the Cover Missouri Coalition is hard at work in Kansas City and statewide to ensure they have accurate information about their options and access to free in-person help.

As part of this effort, Cover Missouri is hosting several launch week education and enrollment events in Kansas City where consumers can learn more about using the Missouri Marketplace, get in-person help enrolling and learn about cost-sharing reductions and tax credits that can lower their health insurance costs.

“The second open enrollment period for the Missouri Marketplace represents an important milestone in providing uninsured Missourians with access to affordable, quality coverage,” said Nancy Kelley, Expanding Coverage Program Director, Missouri Foundation for Health. “Last year, more than 152,000 Missourians enrolled in Marketplace health plans with 85 percent receiving financial assistance. We hope that through our statewide education and enrollment efforts that we can help even more Missourians learn about their options and get covered in 2015.”

All plans offered in the Missouri Marketplace, regardless of plan level, will offer the same protections to consumers and will cover the same set of essential health benefits, including doctor visits, hospital care and prescription medicines, among others. In addition, insurance companies cannot refuse coverage based on pre-existing conditions, or place a limit on how much consumers will pay for essential health benefits each year or over a person’s lifetime. Consumers should purchase health insurance plans by Dec. 15 for coverage to start by Jan. 1.

Education and enrollment events hosted throughout the region by Cover Missouri members surrounding the launch of open enrollment include:

Marketplace Enrollment Events
·  Swope Health Services, 3801 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64130
November 15, 2014, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

· Rosedale Development Association, Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103
November 15, 2014, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

· Enroll Wyandotte, 1737 N. 82nd Street, Kansas City, KS and 3104 Strong Avenue, Kansas City, KS, November 15, 2014, 1 – 5 p.m.

Additional event listings can be found at covermissouri.org and coverkc.org.

“Free education and enrollment events hosted in the Kansas City metro by Cover Missouri members aim to help consumers understand the Marketplace and 2015 coverage options,” said Scott Lakin, regional health care initiative director for the Mid-America Regional Council. “We encourage Kansas City area residents to attend for assistance with obtaining quality, affordable coverage.”

For more information on health care options or to learn more about Cover Missouri, please visit healthcare.gov and covermissouri.org.