Hutcheson Medical Center and American Exchange, a local broker based in Chattanooga, continue to work to facilitate the enrollment of uninsured patients as required by the Affordable Care Act. The deadline for enrollment has been extended to April 15 for those who attempted to sign up prior to March 31 but were unable to complete enrollment.
“It is in the best interest of our community that patients be insured,” stated Farrell Hayes, President and CEO of Hutcheson. “To that end, we’ve partnered with American Exchange to help facilitate enrollment of our uninsured patients. Since December, American Exchange has enrolled 128 previously uninsured Hutcheson patients.” Hayes added that last year, the hospital provided $33 million in healthcare to uninsured patients.
Mr. Hayes encouraged uninsured residents in Walker, Catoosa, and Dade counties to call American Exchange at 888/995-1674 for enrollment assistance.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), qualifications for the deadline extension apply only to those who attempted enrollment before the March 31 deadline. The exemption will rely on an honor system in that there will be no audit to check whether or not individuals tried to enroll in a plan before March 31st. Requests for a special enrollment period after mid-April will have more stringent guidelines.
For more information about enrolling, please call American Exchange at 888/995-1674.