WEST CHESTER (November 29, 2021) – State Senator Carolyn Comitta will host a healthcare enrollment townhall with experts from Pennie, the official health insurance marketplace for Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) on Monday, December 6, 2021, at 7 p.m. at West Chester Borough Hall.
Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, encouraged anyone who has questions about shopping for health insurance to attend. <<REGISTER NOW>>
“The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having healthcare coverage to protect your health and your budget. And Pennie is the one-stop-shop for options and resources to find the coverage you need to access quality, affordable care,” Comitta said. “If you have questions or feel overwhelmed with the idea of shopping for healthcare, please consider attending our townhall, so you can hear directly from experts about all the available options to apply, shop, and enroll.”
Anyone can buy insurance through Pennie and the other ACA marketplaces, but they are typically designed for people who do not have insurance through an employer, and are not eligible for Medicare, which covers seniors and people with disabilities, or Medicaid, which is for low-income individuals and families. Currently, there are nearly 344,000 Pennie customers throughout Pennsylvania.
The open enrollment period for coverage through Pennie is now underway. If you sign up by December 15, you’re guaranteed to be covered by the New Year. Those who sign up after December 15 will start coverage February 1, 2022.
Townhall attendees will hear from Zachary Sherman, Pennie Executive Director, and Erik Huet, Pennie’s Legislative Liaison, about Pennsylvania’s healthcare marketplace and the many resources available. Following the presentation and Q&A with Senator Comitta and her guests from Pennie, individuals will be able to speak one on one with staff from PACHC to learn more about specific options available to them and their families.
“Pennie’s 2022 Open Enrollment Period runs from November 1 to January 15, 2022, with December 15 marking the deadline for coverage beginning New Year’s Day. All uninsured Pennsylvanians, even those who previously thought health coverage was unobtainable, should visit Pennie.com or attend a local townhall event to see how things have changed,” said Zach Sherman, Pennie Executive Director. “I look forward to joining Senator Comitta to discuss Pennie’s offerings and options that are available to improve the financial security and peace of mind of our customers.”
As a result of the American Rescue Plan, affordable coverage has never been more accessible for so many Pennsylvanians. Nine out of 10 Pennie customers qualify for savings which have increased in value for low-income individuals, working families, and near-retirees.
Individuals interested in attending the ACA/Pennie Healthcare Enrollment Townhall can register at www.pasenatorcomitta.com/aca.
For those who cannot make it in person, the event will be livestreamed on the Senator’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/SenatorComitta and www.pasenatorcomitta.com/live/