Area's health-care helpers see little action

Problems with the Affordable Care Act's health insurance enrollment website healthcare.gov have prompted the first congressional hearing about what or who is to blame for the site's many technical issues. In the meantime, countless Americans wait to enroll for health insurance coverage.

Cape Girardeau is no different. Local navigator agencies say they have helped very few enroll in health insurance programs, and the problem is out of their hands.

Navigators are individuals licensed by the state to aid those who need assistance enrolling in health insurance plans when using the online health-care exchange. Cape Girardeau has two navigator organizations: the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging and APPLE Paperwork Service Navigator, or APS Navigator.

Jean Gooden, director of APS Navigator, said the office of three navigators has received many calls from all over the state asking questions about the law and the website. She said most asked whether a person will qualify for a discount, what the rates are and why a person has to go through the process of enrollment.

As for enrolling people in health-insurance plans, the office's navigators have been referring them to the website's toll-free hotline "because that seems to be the way that works best right now," Gooden said.

There is not much navigators can do to help people with the website on their end, Gooden said, because they use the same website. She said the website seems to have less of a problem creating an account and more of a problem with the verification process.

Another way people can apply for health insurance through the exchange is by paper application. Gooden said the office has handed out two.

Until the website is fixed, she said the office's navigators will continue to do outreach and inform people of the law, because many consumers are still confused.

Glenda Hoffmeister, executive director of Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging, said the office has received only about half a dozen calls, some of those being from people who receive Medicare and don't need the exchange. The office has tried to enroll two people who were not able to use the website.

"It's impossible to even try to enroll anyone," Hoffmeister said.

For those trying to get enrolled, she suggests using a paper application or calling the toll-free hotline.

Individuals have until Dec. 15 to apply for coverage that becomes effective Jan. 1.

Open enrollment lasts until March 31, and it was previously stated that people would face a penalty if they postpone buying coverage beyond mid-February.

But because of the website's technical difficulties, the White House said officials soon will issue policy guidance so if consumers sign up by the end of March, they will not face a penalty, The Associated Press reported.

The Cape Girardeau County University of Missouri Extension office in Jackson will host a workshop presenting information for families, individuals and businesses about options and responsibilities under the Affordable Care Act, according to a news release.

The workshop will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at 684 W. Jackson Trail. To register, call 243-3581 or visit extension.missouri.edu/capegirardeau.

To contact APS Navigator, call 290-5272. To contact the local Agency on Aging office, call 335-3331.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

937 Broadway, Suite 202, Cape Girardeau, MO

1219 N. Kingshighway, Suite 100, Cape Girardeau, MO

684 W. Jackson Trail, Jackson, MO