Open enrollment for Health Insurance Marketplace begins Nov. 1

WORLAND —Enroll Wyoming navigators will once again be available to provide individual assistance during the Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, 2017.

“Enroll Wyoming navigators will be traveling to each Wyoming county to educate residents about their health insurance options and provide free enrollment assistance to individuals and families who need coverage for 2018,” said Monica Jennings, Enroll Wyoming navigator.

More than 12 million consumers enrolled in the Marketplace during the last open enrollment period, with 24,826 Wyomingites signing up for coverage.

“To ensure we reach as many people as possible, we have scheduled more than 100 events statewide for this year’s shortened, six-week open enrollment period,” Jennings said. “We will be meeting with folks in coffee shops, health clinics, libraries and many other convenient locations to make sure people feel comfortable and have the opportunity to get their questions answered and get enrolled in coverage for 2018.”

LOCAL DATES

The Enroll Wyoming navigators begin their tour of the Big Horn Basin Wednesday in Thermopolis from 1-5 p.m. at the Hot Springs County Public Health. They will also be back in Thermopolis on Dec. 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hot Springs County Library.

Enroll Wyoming navigators will be in Worland on Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Washakie County Public Health, 1007 Robertson No. 104.

Prior to Worland,

Other locations on Thursday are:

— the Big Horn County Library in Basin from 1-3 p.m.

—Park County Library Grizzly Room in Cody from 5:30-8 p.m.

Navigators ill have three stops on Friday:

—9:30-11:30 a.m. at the Greybull Library

—12:30-2:30 p.m. at the North Big Horn Hospital Clinic in Lovell

—4-7 p.m. at the NWC Training and Development Center in Powell (4-5:30 p.m. information session and 5:30-7 p.m. enrollment)

On Saturday, navigators will be at the West Park Hospital Health Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In previous years navigators visited each county multiple times during open enrollment. Due to reduced funding, the Enroll Wyoming navigators will only be able to travel to some counties once during this year’s open enrollment period.

“We now have access to a statewide telehealth network so will be making use of that to do more outreach around the state,” Jennings said.

Telehealth will allow the navigators to meet with individuals and families using secure video conference and screen-sharing features on the internet. Many counties have designated locations for telehealth access for residents who don’t own computers or have no internet access at home.

“Despite all of the news surrounding the Affordable Care Act, we are still here and committed to helping consumers in Wyoming obtain and understand health insurance,” said Heather Webb, Enroll Wyoming navigator. “We are already working hard to ensure we reach as many parts of our state as possible, be it directly or through telehealth. We have a good plan in place for how we will do outreach and want all of our residents to know that we are available and ready to help them.”