A new service is available to help every Bartholomew County resident obtain health insurance and keep it.
While Covering Kids & Families of United Way may be relatively new in the Columbus area, the state organization — Covering Kids & Families of Indiana — has been promoting and facilitating health care since 1999, said state director Susan Jo Thomas.
As a result, there are now 20 coalitions, including a new one in Columbus, that serve all of Indiana’s 92 counties, Thomas said.
An open house for the new Covering Kids & Families of United Way program is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday in the second floor board room of the Doug Otto United Way Center, 1531 13th St.
The state organization works as a health insurance guide to help Indiana residents find affordable health coverage.
An agency representative will first meet with an person or family head to determine individual needs and circumstances, according to Nichristin Guesman, outreach and enrollment specialist.
From there, the agency provides a number of options that include state health coverage with Medicaid, the Healthy Indiana Plan, Hoosier Healthwise and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan, Guesman said.
Certified health care navigators can also help individuals or families obtain coverage through the Affordable Care Act or other federal market place options that don’t have income guidelines, Guesman said.
Once the right coverage is determined, agency representatives will work through any problems a person might have signing up or using their coverage. Their personnel will also be available later to address follow-up issues and concerns.
Covering Kids & Families uses local donations obtained through partners for their outreach and enrollment services to bring in federal dollars that support healthcare coverage for all.
The state organization also informs stateside policy makers on health care issues and advocates on behalf of coalitions and consumers for policies designed to improve healthcare access, retention and outcomes.
There are many in Bartholomew County who will benefit from this new program, said Covering Kids & Families of United Way Stephanie Strothmann.
“Access to health care and the means to pay for it affects the financial stability of individuals and families by reducing health related debt, increasing workplace productivity, and enabling them to spend more in our local economy,” Strothmann said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
An open house for the new Covering Kids & Families of United Way program is scheduled for 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Tuesday.
It will be held in the second floor board room of the Doug Otto United Way Center, 1531 13th St.
Information: 812-271-1782 or online at uwbarthco.org/covering-kids-and-families
[sc:pullout-text-end]
