Three weeks are left to sign up for health insurance through the federal exchange.
Those who enroll sooner rather than nearing the Jan. 31 deadline will have an easier time, said Jeremy Milarsky, program manager with the Primaris Foundation in Columbia. In August, the nonprofit announced it received a $125,000 grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health to run a call center for those with questions about receiving health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
It's one part of the Cover Missouri Coalition, an organization that provides Missourians with resources for health coverage.
The call center goes beyond over-the-phone conversations, and in-person assisters are available through referrals and appointment scheduling. Milarsky said the service is free and all assisters are field certified and authorized through the state.
He said people tend to put off enrollment because health care is an unpopular subject. It can change a family's budgeting and forces the applicant to think about potential harm to his or herself and family members.
That's why when a deadline looms, those in need of coverage respond. Right before the Dec. 17 deadline for coverage beginning Jan. 1, Milarsky described his office as a "madhouse" that was "backed to the gills." On Thursday, he said his office wasn't busy, but he expects clients to come in increasingly as the deadline approaches.
"The best way to minimize inconvenience is to come now before the deadline," Milarsky said.
One of those inconveniences, he said, is the wait time on healthcare.gov.
Milarsky said the assisters do not promote or detract from the ACA law, and they do not advertise for certain insurance companies. Their role is to give clients information to make the best decisions possible. Almost every case is different, he said.
"Success is when they have knowledge of where they stand with the law," Milarsky said.
He recommended clients come in knowing their expected income for the coming year (2016), immigration status and access to other forms of health insurance. The most common forms of health insurance are Medicare, Medicaid and employer-sponsored. Milarsky said to bring a driver's license to enroll or know date of birth and Social Security number.
Assisters will also need to see proof of income. They must verify income information within 90 days, or any discount or subsidy can be repealed and the client will pay the raw premium. That's a common occurrence, he said.
"This is a system that lends itself to people being organized, staying on top of their situations," Milarsky said.
Cover Missouri goes beyond enrollment assistance, he added. Assisters can handle appeals and exemption requests, among other actions. For more information on Cover Missouri, go to covermissouri.org or call 1-800-466-3213.
Central Missouri Community Action (CMCA) is also assisting clients enroll in the marketplace. They have trained and licensed Certified Application Counselors to assist for free. CMCA has one-on-one enrollment and educational presentations for those interested. To learn more, go to showmeaction.org, email [email protected] or call 855-612-2259.