Holy Name Press Releases

Holy Name Offers Help in Signing Up for Health Insurance

November 25, 2014

The Korean Medical Program (KMP) at Holy Name Medical Center is offering free assistance again for people who need to sign up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Two volunteer Korean-speaking navigators are at the hospital Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from now until Feb. 15 - the last day for enrollment on the federal website - and on several Saturdays.

This is the second year the KMP has provided assistance to uninsured people trying to navigate the different insurance plans through the healthcare.gov website, which enables income-eligible consumers to get subsidies towards their monthly premiums. Last year the KMP helped 1,500 people sign up and program administrators are expecting to serve the same number of individuals.

"I am glad we are able to help those in our community who are in need of ACA enrollment," said Kyung-Hee Choi, Vice President of the Korean Medical Program. "When people have no health insurance, they don't seek medical care until the condition gets worse, requiring longer or more expansive treatment and higher costs. As people get coverage, they are beginning to take better care of themselves, including preventive care. We are already seeing an increased number of visits at our Medical Center and off-site KMP offices."

Korean-speaking insurance navigators will also be available on Dec. 6 and 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Appointments must be made for weekday and weekend sessions, which are all one-on-one and usually take about an hour. Each Tuesday, one navigator who specializes in Medicaid is also available to help people who qualify for this state program.

Anyone who purchased an insurance plan last year through the government website will be automatically re-enrolled in the same plan this year but the cost may have increased so consumers should be aware of the new terms. Anyone without insurance will face a fine of $325 per person annually or 2 percent of his or her salary, whichever is higher.

To make an appointment call 201-833-3399. Learn more about the Korean Medical Program at kholyname.com.