With Donald Trump and the Republicans calling for repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, some might be wondering if the time is now to sign up for health insurance. The simple answer is, yes, sign up tonight, according to Tracy Anderson, of WithinReach, a nonprofit that works to connect people and families to services and organizations to help them be healthy. It’s probably not the first avenue you might think of for getting started but Thursday night’s Capitol Hill Art Walk can help.
“We can’t predict what’s going to happen,” Anderson said about potential changes, but those enrolled for 2017 will be on a contract with their insurance providers for the year.
“We’re just encouraging people to sign up,” Anderson said.
The deadline for signing up for health insurance for 2017 through the Washington Healthplanfinder is January 31.
People looking to enroll, but who would like some assistance can take advantage of WithinReach’s insurance enrollment event from 5 to 8 PM on Thursday at Fred WildlifeRefuge as a part of Capitol Hill Art Walk.
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/event/capitol-hill-art-walk-and-health-insurance-enrollment/
“It’s kind of an innovative way to reach people where they’re at,” said Anderson.
Staff with WithinReach, a nearly 30-year-old company, and officials with King County Public Health will be available to assist people with signing up for health coverage through the Healthplanfinder.
“It’s a hard system to navigate on your own,” Anderson told CHS, adding that the organization sends staff out almost daily to various locations in Snohomish and King counties to connect people to services.
Last year WithinReach held a happy hour of sorts to help people enroll and got about 60 people signed up for health care. This year Anderson said the organization wanted to coincide their enrollment event with the neighborhood’s art walk to try to get even more people signed up — particularly artists and service industry workers.
Anderson anticipates WithinReach will break last year’s numbers at Thursday’s event.
Those interested in signing up for health insurance should bring information on their current health plan, income information, their social security number, birthdate, legal permanent resident card or other immigration documentation, and an electronic form of payment. Anderson said people should also plan on arriving at the event by 7:30 PM to ensure staff has enough time to assist everyone.
Students from Path with Art, an organization that provides arts-based programs to adults in transition, will also be displaying artwork during the event, and DJ Rhythma of KEXP will be providing tunes.
While registering people for health care, Anderson said the information required by the exchange often helps staff determine other programs people qualify for — the Women, Infants and Children program, food stamps, Orca Lift, or other services.
People interested in signing up for health care, but who aren’t able to attend the event, can call WithinReach’s Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
You can learn more at withinreachwa.org.
