Medical System to Open Affordable Care Act Hotline

Provided by St. Mary Medical Center:

The open enrollment period for the health insurance marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act begins on October 1, 2013, and goes until March 31, 2014, yet December 15 is the last day for enrollment for coverage beginning on January 1, 2014.

The law – designed to make health insurance affordable and accessible to the uninsured – can be confusing and many people are still unsure about what insurance to choose and how to enroll. According to Enroll America research, nearly 80 percent of uninsured Americans don’t realize that the Affordable Care Act can help them. In response, as the most trusted and preferred healthcare provider in the region, St. Mary Medical Center is offering personalized, free assistance and information resources to help people better understand the options available and choose an insurance plan to meet their needs.

St. Mary is opening Community Outreach Centers at six different locations beginning October 1.

Locations, addresses, phone numbers, and hours of operation are listed in the chart below. Weekend hours will be available by appointment.

The marketplace is a resource to find the health plans available through the Affordable Care Act. Under the new healthcare reform law, all insurance plans will be required to cover doctor visits, hospitalizations, maternity care, emergency room care, prescriptions, and pre-existing conditions (insurance plans can no longer deny coverage). The Affordable Care Act also requires that all insurance plans are written in clear language, and that consumers have transparent access to the most current public quality data.

However, not all insurance company plans on the exchanges will include the same hospitals, and specific coverage may vary based on the type of plan chosen. Some individuals will be able to receive federal subsidies to help pay for the health insurance.

When choosing one of the insurance plans participating in the exchange or marketplace, St. Mary recommends that consumers evaluate their specific needs. Does he or she visit the doctor often, or need regular prescriptions? If so, then a Gold or Platinum plan might be best. Otherwise, a Bronze or Silver plan might be sufficient and more cost efficient. Consumers also may want to ensure that the plan they choose includes St. Mary as its hospital provider.

Being a trusted source of information on important issues is one more way St. Mary is committed to meeting the needs of the community. As the largest employer and most comprehensive Medical Center in the region, St. Mary is dedicated to providing the community with the highest quality of care and services at the best possible cost. Eight out of 10 consumers rate St. Mary with the highest overall score when measuring patient satisfaction and “would recommend” the Medical Center to others.*

For more information, call 215.710.5888 or visit us at www.StMaryMedicalCenter.Org/Insurance.