September 19, 2013
Contact: Mae Yousif-Bashi, 313-842-1935, mbashi@accesscommunity.org
Press event will kick off initiative on September 30
DEARBORN, Mich. – ACCESS is proud to be named one of four groups within the state of Michigan to have recently been awarded a grant by Michigan Health Insurance Marketplace’s Navigator program as part of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. As one of the Navigators, ACCESS staff members will serve as an in-person resource for Michigan residents who would like additional assistance in shopping for and enrolling in affordable health care plans within the Health Insurance Marketplace, which opens on October 1.
ACCESS is hosting a press event at 1 p.m. on Monday, September 30 at the Arab American National Museum (AANM) to kick off this great initiative. Invited guests and possible speakers include Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) and U.S. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.).
The four Michigan grantee organizations will be sharing $2.54 million, nearly $277,000 of which will help ACCESS become a resource to help the community navigate the upcoming changes in healthcare. Nationwide, more than 100 organizations will be receiving such a grant.
“At ACCESS, we know how important it is for families to have coverage for those unexpected illnesses or injuries, yet we still see thousands of uninsured individuals come to our health center every year,” said Dr. Adnan Hammad, senior director of ACCESS Community Health and Research Center and project director for the Navigator program. “By signing up for a plan through the Marketplace, plans are much more affordable for individuals and families, giving them peace of mind if an emergency were to arise. There are some vendors who will be charging for the service we are offering, but we are happy to be helping individuals in the community find the healthcare plan that best fits their needs and enrolling them through the Marketplace at no cost.”
Individuals who aren’t exempt from signing up for health care as part of the Affordable Care Act may face penalty fees each year if they don’t have coverage by March 31, 2014, which is the end of the open enrollment period.
As a Navigator, ACCESS’ trained staff will be on hand to enroll individuals in the Marketplace, as well as answer any questions they may have about the new system. The system will analyze an individual’s personal information and health care needs, and recommend which type of insurance and plan best suits their budget, whether they’re looking for insurance as an individual, a family or a small company. Participants will be able to compare different policies and choose whichever they prefer without the hassle of shopping around with different insurance companies.
Michigan residents can pre-enroll with ACCESS today to get free Marketplace enrollment assistance and information by visiting www.accesshealthcaremichigan.org, or by calling 1-888-670-6798.