West Kentucky Allied Services is getting the word out about Open Enrollment despite funding cuts for marketing and advertising Obamacare.
Their ‘Health Benefit Assisters Program’ focuses on outreach efforts and helping people sign up for insurance through the federal marketplace, HealthCare.gov. Assister Brenda Cooper said enrollment has been slow this year, but that they are “still doing business as usual.”
“We just go throughout the community trying to bring awareness that open enrollment is still here,” said Cooper, “You are still able to enroll in rate plans for health insurance.”
Cooper said outreach consists of community events and visiting food banks, health departments and re-entry programs to reach low-income populations. She said their main focus is to reach individuals who lost their private insurance and jobs in the last year, but there are still some limitations.
WKAS finance assistant Temple Hill said their main limitation is that they are not licensed insurance representatives and cannot help anyone choose a plan.
“The main thing we provide is to help them see how to sign up on the computer or to make the phone call and, you know, sit with them while they’re trying to get signed up,” said Hill.
Hill said WKAS can refer those with additional questions to insurance agents who can assist them in selecting a plan.
The enrollment period ends December 15th. WKAS covers the Jackson Purchase region.
Insurance Agents Referral List for 2017
Benton, KY
Martha Harper
(270) 804-7682
Deborah Blankenship
Sheila Garrett
April Hannah
Kelli Cates
(270) 527-5433
Randal Martin
(270) 527-2100
Murray, KY
Peyton Arant
(270) 753-0982
Jill Butterworth or Todd Contri
(270) 753-7278
Paducah, KY
Terrel Bohannon or Wendy Cooper
(270) 554-5535
Mayfield, KY
Chester “Arthur” Byrn
(270) 247-2582
South Fulton, TN
David Hutchins
(270) 627-0472
