By Melissa Wharton
Northeast News

Whether you’re already insured or not, it may be time to visit the Health Insurance Marketplace to look at their coverage options. The condensed open enrollment for 2018 is open from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15.

While the open enrollment period has lasted three months in previous years, this time around the period is just six weeks. Other changes include the insurance carriers and provider networks.

“With only six weeks to enroll in 2018 coverage, it’s important to act now and schedule an appointment with a trained assister,” said Jim Torres, marketplace program manager at Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center and CoverKC co-chair. “Our help is free, and by starting early you can avoid any enrollment delays that could arise later.”

Torres and his team of trained navigators assist people who need help enrolling in the Marketplace. They are located throughout the metro and offer free, in-person assistance to review plan options, see if they qualify for financial help, select a plan, and navigate the application progress. In the Northeast, CoverKC has navigators at the Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center.

“We’ve already had quite a few appointments. Our calendar is filling up quickly, so people should contact us soon,” Torres said. “We encourage everyone to come in, update their information and shop around. The plan you had last year may not work for you this year, because plans may change. Prices can go up. So we encourage people to shop around and find the best value for them for this next year.”

To find an assister near you, call United Way 2-1-1 or visit www.coverkc.org.