It's time to FALL back
into fitness!
1040 Fernwood Glendale Road
Phone: (864) 699-9950
Health Insurance Marketplace Opens November 1st
Spartanburg again offering free application assistance
If you need help comparing plans or filling-out an application on the Health Insurance Marketplace,
Mary Black Health System - Spartanburg is once again offering free assistance during Open Enrollment, November 1 - January 31, 2017.
Appointments may be made with the hospital's certified assisters by calling
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010, and this year's
Open Enrollment marks the fourth annual campaign to extend healthcare coverage
to citizens who
would otherwise be uninsured. More than 13 million people enrolled
in Marketplace plans for 2016.
News of several large insurers either reducing their participation in the upcoming Marketplace, or exiting it altogether, has spurred concern about rising premiums (monthly fees) and higher deductibles (predetermined amounts of healthcare
expense an individual pays before health plan coverage "kicks in".)
However, Kaiser Health News (KHN) reports the majority of enrollees will be
insulated from premium increases, since eight in 10 receive subsidies
based on income/household size. (As premiums rise, subsidies increase.)
KHN also projects any changes to premiums or deductibles will vary
widely state-to-state, and in some instances, even county-to-county,
since the number of insurers in each location influences
competitive pricing, and insurers continuously enter-and-exit different markets.
"There are always questions concerning changes to premiums, deductibles and
out-of-pocket limits before Open Enrollment launches each year," explains Sean Dardeau, CEO of Mary Black Health System - Spartanburg. "This will always be
the case as insurers enter and exit different markets. But what is consistent, year-to-year, is the value of the Marketplace. Millions of people are able to sign up for
insurance who otherwise wouldn't have access to care, or who would face a financial crisis due
to medical bills."
Majority of enrollees will receive assistance
To help make health insurance affordable, the government uses household income to determine who is eligible for financial assistance. This aid might include advanced tax credits to help pay for premiums, or discounts on co-pays and deductibles. As in past years, a majority of enrollees are expected to qualify for some type of financial support
in 2017. Individuals who are re-enrolling on the marketplace are encouraged to re-evaluate and compare plans, as the lowest-cost option can change from year to year.
"I think this is where our certified assisters add so much value," says Sean Dardeau, CEO. "They know how to explain the pros and cons of each option, and they carefully screen each person to make sure any subsidies toward premiums, or any discounts available for deductibles or co-pays, are accessed."
All health plans on the Marketplace must offer a comprehensive set of benefits, and coverage cannot be denied for individuals with a pre-existing health condition. Some
of the health benefits include free preventive care and wellness services; doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital and emergency department care, lab services, pediatric services, and mental and behavioral health treatment.
Penalties
Individuals who are eligible for health insurance who do not purchase coverage not only pay a penalty when filing their tax return, but they also forfeit financial help with healthcare expenses throughout the year.
The penalty is either 2.5% of family income
or a predetermined flat rate, whichever is higher. The 2016 penalty was $695 per adult, $347.50 per child, with a maximum fee of $2,085; these fees will be adjusted for inflation in 2017.
We need Volunteers M/Th/Fri 8:45am-Noon; Tues/Wed 8am-Noon;
Mon 3:45-6pm; Thurs 3:15-7pm; Saturday 8:00am-1:00pm.
We will work with your schedules.
HALTER
PO Box 1403, Spartanburg, SC 29304
The Artists' Guild of Spartanburg is sponsoring an Art Angel Tree
project during the month of November. The public is welcome to come by and
choose an item from a local art teacher's wish list for a classroom.
The Artists' Guild is located inside the
Chapman Cultural Center at
200 E. St. John Street in Downtown Spartanburg
Safe Homes - Rape Crisis Coalition is getting ready to kick off an exciting
new event centered awareness campaign.
1BlueStringHubCity is a singer/songwriter competition for Spartanburg and surrounding areas. This campaign is to raise awareness and support for the
1 in 6 men that have had an unwanted or abusive sexual experience in childhood.
The competition, open to soloists, duets or groups (18+, all genres), asks artists
to submit an original piece based on this year's theme: HOPE. Registration and submission begins Jan. 1. Judges will score each entry, selecting the top 6 as finalists. On April 7th, the 6 finalists will perform at a live public concert at USC Upstate, where audience members will vote for the winner.
Comfort Keepers is now hiring CNAs and Caregivers!
GET IN, GET ADDICTED, GET FIT
We are registering for Spring 2017 classes at SCC!
Starting in January, business marketing, management, accounting, and
advanced office technology programs will be offered ONLY at the
Downtown Campus!
Other programs at the Evans Academic Center include EMT/Paramedic,
University Transfer, and Patient Care Technology.
Register now before classes fill. Contact Reggie Wilburn at 592-4053 or
[email protected]
, or stop in the admissions office between 8:00 and 5:00
at 220 East Kennedy Street in downtown Spartanburg.
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