Walk-In Health Coverage Enrollment Event and Resource Fair on Jan. 28

Enrollment Deadline for 2017 Health Coverage is Tuesday, Jan. 31

Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County will host a final walk-in health coverage enrollment event and comprehensive resource fair on Saturday, Jan. 28 in Longmont as part of Open Enrollment for Connect for Health Colorado. At the event, Boulder County’s Health Coverage Guides will provide free, confidential assistance to help people find coverage that is right for them, and in some cases connect them with financial assistance to help cover the costs of premiums.

     What: Enrollment Event & Resource Fair
     When: Saturday, Jan 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
     Where: St. Vrain Community Hub, 515 Coffman Street, Longmont

Open Enrollment for 2017 health coverage through Connect for Health Colorado (C4HCO), the state’s health insurance marketplace, runs through Jan. 31.

Boulder County has trained and certified bi-lingual Health Coverage Guides who provide education about insurance options, assist with the online application, and link people to other human services supports as needed.

As an added benefit to the open enrollment event this year, Boulder County programs including Double Up Food Bucks; Workforce Boulder County; Head Start; Women, Infants and Children (WIC); Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP); Longs Peak Energy Conservation (LPEC); and Housing and Financial Counseling will also be present for a resource fair. Visitors can also learn more about Boulder County’s Kestrel affordable housing site in Louisville, and the Boulder County Transportation Department will have staff and information available.

Boulder County estimates several thousand county residents are without health insurance, with a majority of these uninsured being Latino residents and young adults. Since the Affordable Care Act was implemented, Boulder County has seen a 111% increase in the number of people with health coverage under Medicaid and the Child Health Plan Plus. Boulder County has also led the largest Colorado counties in per-capita coverage through the Connect for Health Colorado Marketplace.

“There’s been a lot of discussion about the future of the health care expansions,” said Patrick Kelly, Project Director for the Boulder County C4HCO Assistance Site. “But the fact remains that health coverage is critical for protecting both physical and financial health, and the law still requires coverage for everyone. For many uninsured people, one accident or illness is all it takes to create a crisis. These walk-in enrollment events make it easy for people to find the coverage they need.”

Boulder County continues to utilize the successful health coverage outreach campaign titled “Why Me?” The campaign targets residents who currently do not have health insurance to encourage them to learn about their options for coverage through Connect for Health Colorado. The most recent campaign includes print and social media advertising as well as community outreach and enrollment events. More information is available at www.WhyMeBoulderCounty.org.

For help understanding Colorado’s health insurance marketplace or getting coverage, Boulder County residents can call 303-441-1000 and they will be directed to a county Health Coverage Guide.

To learn more about Boulder County Housing and Human Services, visit, www.BoulderCountyHHS.org