LITTLE ROCK (Sept. 12, 2013) – The Arkansas Insurance Department, in partnership with the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, will host the Open Enrollment Kickoff Oct. 1 to mark the opening of the Health Insurance Marketplace. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Clinton School. The event is free and open to the public.
“We’re pleased to join with the Arkansas Insurance Department in hosting an Oct. 1 opening-day enrollment fair for affordable health insurance,” Clinton School Dean, Skip Rutherford said. “Thanks to Governor Beebe and the legislature, more than 500,000 Arkansans, including some Clinton School students, are now eligible. It’s a big day – especially for those who have no health insurance and for those with pre-existing conditions who now can be covered.”
“This is a historic moment for our state and nation,” said Cindy Crone, deputy commissioner of the Arkansas Insurance Department. “We’ve been working diligently since 2010 toward this day when Arkansans have access to affordable, quality health insurance.”
Crone said the Arkansas Health Connector was created by the Arkansas Insurance Department to connect Arkansans to the new Health Insurance Marketplace where they can access new health coverage options. “We are thrilled to host this opening event in partnership with the Clinton School,” said Crone.
Oct. 1 is the first day that people can view plans offered through the Marketplace. Those attending the event can set up a Marketplace account, shop and compare health insurance plans and learn how much financial assistance they qualify for. Trained, licensed guides will be on hand to assist with enrollment. Attendees can also gather information from a number of informational booths.
To be eligible to enroll, a person must be between the ages of 18 and 64, live in the U.S., and must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present. Anyone who plans to enroll should be prepared with:
• Birthdate and Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants) for each member of household
• Employer and income information for every member of the household (for example, pay stubs, W-2 forms, wage and tax statements)
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of the household
• A completed Employer Coverage Tool for every job-based plan anyone in the household is eligible for. That form and a checklist can be found at healthcare.gov/downloads/MarketplaceApp_Checklist_Generic.pdf
“Now Arkansans have the opportunity to get access to quality, affordable health insurance coverage,” Crone said. “This event is the first opportunity for people to enroll and I encourage any uninsured Arkansan to attend.”
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About the Arkansas Health Connector: The Arkansas Health Connector (AHC) was created by the Arkansas Insurance Department to provide Arkansans with the information and tools they need to get health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This has been made possible through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.