Memorial Health encourages those without health insurance to “Get Covered, Stay Covered” during the open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace. Open enrollment begins November 1 and continues through January 31, 2016. Patients can request more information about health insurance options offered through the Marketplace by visiting memorialhealth.com.

Certified navigators are available to answer questions and offer enrollment assistance at J.C. Lewis Primary Health Care Center and Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Inc. Licensed brokers at Bill Lucas Insurance can provide information on plan comparisons and assist with enrollment. All of these resources are free for consumers.

All Marketplace insurance plans cover physician visits, hospitalizations, pregnancy care, emergency department visits, and prescriptions. Financial help may be available for those who qualify, based on their income. Coverage is available to all U.S. citizens and documented immigrants. Qualifying health plans cannot deny coverage to any individual with a pre-existing condition.

Those who enroll by December 15 will receive coverage beginning January 1, 2016. There are three ways to enroll: by phone (800-318-2596), online at healthcare.gov, or by appointment with a certified navigator.