Uninsured? NOW is the time to sign up!

Wood River Health Services to get the insured enrolled before the March 31 deadline

Charolette Romagnano, Outreach and Enrollment
Specialists at Wood River Health Services, displays
new kiosks available to assist with HealthSourceRI.com
insurance exchange enrollments

HOPE VALLEY, RI – With the deadline approaching for the Health Insurance Marketplace fast approaching, Wood River Health Services is stepping up its efforts to help those still without coverage to get enrolled with several outreach events in the Westerly area and the addition of two kiosks at the Hope Valley health center.

Open Enrollment for 2014 coverage ends March 31, 2014. Anyone who hasn’t enrolled in coverage by then, generally can’t enroll in 2014 Marketplace coverage. There is an exception for those who have a qualifying life event that provides a special enrollment period.

Those without health coverage by March 31 may have to pay a penalty.

Outreach and Enrollment Specialists from Wood River Health Services will be on hand at Tower Street Community Center on March 10 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and at the Jonnycake Center on March 11 from 9 a.m. until noon to provide education and information. Attendees will also be able to book appointments for enrollment sessions.

Enrollment appointments will be scheduled for March 13, 9 a.m. – noon, and March 24, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Jonnycake Center or March 17, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., at Tower Street Center, or may be booked as available at Wood River Health Services.

Those who want to enroll for health insurance or look into their options for individuals or families should bring the social security number and date of birth of all who you are looking to enroll and any information that would be helpful to determine potential income for the year 2014.

In addition to the outreach efforts, Wood River Health Services has installed two computer kiosks at the health center that can be used to access HealthSourceRI.com, the state’s insurance exchange, for those having difficulty accessing the site. The kiosks are available by appointment by calling (401) 539-2461 ext. 243.

The next Open Enrollment period is proposed to begin on November 15, 2014 for health insurance coverage that begins January 1, 2015.

Insurance on the Exchange is available outside the open enrollment period only in the event of a qualifying life event such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, or loss of a job.

Enrollment in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is available any time. There is no limited enrollment period for these programs.

If you own or operate a small business, you can start offering coverage to your employees at any time.

Wood River Health Services is the Federally Qualified Community Health Center for southwestern Rhode Island, providing medical and dental care and social services to over 9,000 area residents.

The center also provides a nationally recognized chronic disease management program, on-site lab testing in cooperation with Westerly Hospital and behavioral and mental health counseling referrals.

Wood River Health Services is located at 823 Main St., Hope Valley (on Route 3 south of the village, just off Route I-95 at Exit 2). For more information, call (401) 539-2461 or visit www.wrhsri.org.