(Need Help Finding Health Insurance by Joanne Cochran, President and CEO of Keystone Health, first appeared in the Public 
Opinion Newspaper in 2013. To read it online, visit www.publicopiniononline.com.)
In Franklin County, there are numbers of people currently without health insurance. While most of those people can enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance exchange, more than 3,000 Franklin County children as well as many adults are eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and may not know it.
For those who are confused about which programs they may qualify for or what subsidy they can obtain to help them pay for coverage, there is assistance. Across Central Pennsylvania there are helpers, or navigators, available to make sense of the many programs offered for those in need or information on how to apply for and receive health coverage. Health navigators can walk you through the application and enrollment process. If you qualify for Medicaid or CHIP, or want to apply for coverage though the health insurance exchange, they can assist you with application.
This year Keystone Health was awarded a grant to help identify and enroll children and adults in Franklin County who are eligible for coverage. The grant funds have been used to hire and train staff as well as open offices in Greencastle, Waynesboro, and Chambersburg to make it convenient to get help. Enrollment navigators can also come to schools, libraries or churches to provide assistance.
Many different organizations offer these types of services, but it’s important to make sure the navigator you choose has a certified assistance counselor, or CAC, number. To find a CAC near you, visit https://localhelp.healthcare.gov/ and type in your zip code. A list of approved organizations is there for you to choose from which will help you avoid becoming the victim of a scam.
Whether those who need insurance locally log on to www.healthcare.gov and apply, or seek the help of an enrollment navigator, one thing is for sure—help is available for those who need health care and now is the time to act.
Joanne Cochran is President and CEO of Keystone Health in Chambersburg, PA.
