The Peoria City/County Health Department is beginning the process of educating the community on Illinois’ Health Insurance Marketplace. The state program created under the Affordable Care Act will allow residents to shop for health coverage online beginning October 1st.
This week’s meetings will be for small businesses and organizations that will refer the uninsured to agencies helping people through the process. Kelly Stewart is with the health department which will help residents navigate through the Marketplace. She says the meetings will offer various kinds of information.
"They are going to learn a little bit about the Affordable Care Act in general and some of the things that are coming with that starting on October 1st. We'll also be talking about what our role is at the health department and the in-person counselors that we have here, and then we're also just going to talk about how we can help each other through this process."
Stewart says the health department will begin outreach, educational activities, and one-on-one assistance to individuals enrolling for insurance through the Marketplace beginning October 1st. The informational meetings for small businesses and organizations are Wednesday from 2 to 3 and Thursday from 9 to 10 at the health department.