To increase awareness and encourage enrollment for the Affordable Care Act, an informational session will be held at the downtown location of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Public Library this Saturday, from 2 until 4 p.m.
As of September 7, only 23 days will remain before the official date for enrollment begins for health care insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Enrollment will begin October 1 for coverage beginning January 1, 2014. According to recent reports and publications, awareness about the new health care law had declined among some groups more than three years after “Obamacare” was signed into law.
Saturday’s discussion will consist of a panel presentation on access to physician care, the benefit to businesses, the health care exchanges and how to sign up. The event is open to everyone, especially people between the ages of 27 and 64 who are looking for information on the act and how it will impact them, their family or business.
Panel presenters and speakers include Chris Young, M.D., current president of the Tennessee Medical Association and practicing anesthesiologist with Anesthesiology Consultants Exchange; Joseph Winick, Erlanger Health System Sr. Vice President of Planning and Business Development; and Katherlyn Geter, Outreach and Enrollment Administrator, Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers.
It is estimated 50,000 residents in Hamilton County are uninsured. Not only the county, but Tennessee, the 17th most populated state in the United States with approximately 6.5 million residents, has 869,500 representatives representing ages 0 to 64 who are uninsured.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Public Library – Downtown Branch is located at 1001 Broad Street. The session is free and registration is not required.