Free health insurance support now available in northwest Kansas

Submitted

COLBY — Via funding provided by Prosper Allen County, two community companies have partnered to supply free of charge, in-person and virtual assist for all people of northwest Kansas who have to have enable navigating the Wellness Insurance coverage Market.

“Healthcare and well being insurance policies are complicated topics that give lots of persons a lot of anxiousness,” said Travis Rickford, director of LiveWell Northwest Kansas, the guide business making these free of charge solutions out there. “But, in order to choose care of your wellbeing and well-becoming, and that of your loved ones, it is so important to be knowledgeable of your alternatives.

“We at LiveWell are so grateful for the assistance we’ve gotten from Thrive Allen County and for our partnership with Citizens Wellness of Colby. Collectively, we have been in a position to secure two properly trained Marketplace navigators who will be capable to help northwest Kansas folks with Market well being insurance plan enrollment providers.”

Now offered as the only Market navigators providing aid for the full area are Julian Cadavid, a bilingual treatment coordinator at LiveWell, and affected person useful resource manager Valerie Ohlrogge of Citizens Wellness. Qualified to supply nonbiased aid, this cost-free provider is supplied with no affiliation to any insurance policy corporation. There are three organizations who provide insurance coverage designs through the Marketplace, reported Ohlrogge: Blue Cross Blue Defend of Kansas, Ambetter by Sunflower, and Medica, who gives Advanced Top quality Tax Credits.

For the average Kansas median income, she explained, options are considerably less than $100 for each month.

Ohlrogge stresses that open up enrollment is from Nov. 1 by means of Jan. 15. Additionally, in get to have coverage for the 2022 year, candidates should enroll in a plan by Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021.

Cadavid and Ohlrogge are on hand to help people today and tiny corporations in the course of the 12 northwestern-most Kansas counties master about the Kansas Market Exchange. They are experienced to enable folks glance for very affordable health coverage choices, can reveal the distinctive plans, support folks discover about preventative wellbeing added benefits, money support, how to complete eligibility and enrollments sorts, and extra.

No cost wellbeing insurance policy support now readily available in northwest Kansas “And the greatest part is that our companies are free,” said Rickford.

“We’re excited to partner with Citizens Health in the implementation of this program,” he explained. “They have comprehensive working experience offering this services by now and their participation authorized for LiveWell to expand its attain in the course of the total location.

“When more northwest Kansas residents are insured, families are able to entry critical health care expert services that direct to an over-all improved high quality of lifestyle. We’re performing tricky to support people fully grasp overall health insurance policy solutions and assure everybody has accessibility to affordable, high-quality health care and preventative products and services. It’s our aim to make certain uninsured people locate coverage and choose measures towards well being and wholeness.”

Rickford reported the two Cadavid and Ohlrogge are accredited and keen to start out assembly with men and women. Cadavid a short while ago received his navigator certification from the Middle of Medicaid and Medicare Products and services and will be stationed in Goodland at the Goodland Regional Clinical Heart specialty clinic.

“Being ready to talk each English and Spanish, I’m especially happy for the possibility to assistance Hispanic and Latino people,” said Cadavid. “And, we’re also thankful that Goodland Regional Clinical Heart is capable to give space for me to satisfy with customers.”

More than the previous 8 many years, Ohlrogge has worked as a navigator or licensed assister at Citizens Wellbeing.

“There are a great deal of misconceptions about the Health Coverage Trade,” claimed Ohlrogge. “Our target is to tell persons of the accessible methods in our space that could make a optimistic impact on their lives. LiveWell has a sturdy network of sources all through northwest Kansas, so I’m genuinely grateful for this partnership as we perform collectively to increase our providers and see additional individuals who we can assistance.”

Men and women can contact Navigators Cadavid or Ohlrogge for a cost-free appointment now. Cadavid, centered in Goodland, can be reached at 785-332-5927 or [email protected] Ohlrogge is based in Colby and can be contacted at 785-460-1777 or [email protected] Both equally are capable to guidance residents all over the total northwest Kansas community.

Find out extra about LiveWell at www.livewellnwk.org.