Chattanooga area navigators make final Obamacare push

MORE INFORMATIONAppointments are required to enroll. Call 423-778-LINK (5465) to make an appointment. People unable to attend during enrollment week can meet through March 31 with Erlanger's certified application counselors.IF YOU GOInformation and enrollment sessions this week:Monday• Erlanger Medical Mall, 979 E. Third St., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.Tuesday• Southside Community Health Center, 100 E. 37th St., noon-3 p.m.• Dodson Avenue Community Health Center, 1200 Dodson Ave., 5-8 p.m.Wednesday• Erlanger Bledsoe, 71 Wheelertown Ave., Pikeville, Tenn., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CSTThursday• Sequatchie County Courthouse, 22 Cherry St. Dunlap, Tenn. noon-5 p.m. CSTFriday• Erlanger East, 1751 Gunbarrel Road, 1-5 p.m.

As the days dwindle for people to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act during this open enrollment period, two local navigator groups and a local broker agency are partnering in the final push to connect people with coverage.

Navigators andcounselors with Erlanger Health System and the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga will be stationing themselves at a variety of events and locations across the region this week, starting with Erlanger's main downtown campus on Monday.

Representatives with Chattanooga-based broker American Exchange also will be available at the locations to help people sign up for coverage online.

The Medical Foundation's director, Rae Young Bond, said March will be a busy month as the March 31 enrollment deadline moves people from consideration to action.

"A lot of people have waited to make a decision. A lot of people have been exploring, trying to learn about insurance," Bond said.

"We've had some clients who've been very surprised at the price" when they were found to be eligible for subsidies to help buy coverage, she added.

Erlanger officials also released a statement, saying that "as the region's largest health care system, Erlanger's mission is to assist local residents in applying for or selecting the best health insurance plan so their future medical expenses will be covered."

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