RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – State officials, as well as local organizations, are reminding North Carolinians that there’s still time to get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
All week long, the North Carolina Navigator Consortium, made up of 100 experts including at least 12 locally, will be providing free, one-on-one sessions for applicants to enroll.
Experts walk applicants or those interested through the process of picking the best healthcare plan under Blue Cross Blue Shield or Cigna, which is available in select areas of the Triangle. Navigators can also help with applying for financial assistance that is still available for premiums, deductibles, and/or co-pays.
Consortium officials say last year at least 200,000 people in the state signed up for Obamacare, and they expect similar numbers for this year.
The program’s director wants to people to know that even though Obamacare has become a political football, you can still get covered.
“It is still going to cover all the medical care you need,” explained Jennifer Simmons with NC Navigator Consortium, a branch of Legal Aid. “You’re still going to be able to use it in the emergency room, the doctor’s office, lab work, the prescriptions, mental health care, pediatric care – any kind of healthcare you need during the year will be covered under the ACA plan.”
Gov. Roy Cooper and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen will join the navigators Wednesday in an event to make a final push for enrollment before Friday’s midnight deadline.
Thursday, the navigators will be available to assist people from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Wake County Sunnybrook Community Health Building. The following day, Friday, they will be available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Augustine’s University library.
Applicants should have the name, social security number, and date of birth for all those in their tax-filing household. A 2018 income estimate will be required. If you’re not a U.S. citizen, you will also need immigration documents.
To enroll for ACA healthcare coverage, visit here. To set an appointment with the NC Navigator Consortium, visit here.