Health Care Sign Up Info

By now we all have heard or personally experienced how badly the start up to Healthcare.gov has been.  While it has been a disappointment to those who want to browse and buy affordable health insurance, there are alternatives to the government website. Huff Post Business lists seven alternatives to help you get started  looking at, choosing, and signing up for health care coverage.

 You can download, print, and mail in an application. Forms can be found here:  http://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Forms-Reports-and-Other-Resources/index.html. You will want to scroll down to the section "Health Insurance Market Place Forms" and find the individual and family forms to download and print off.

You can call the Help Center at 1-800-318-2596 and speak with a qualified government representative to answer any questions you have about the forms or about health insurance coverage in general.

There is also a new website called HealthSherpa . Use this website to shop and get price quotes before signing up for a health care plan. The HealthSherpa website will allow you to find insurance plans based on zip code, age, level of coverage desired, and income without collecting and keeping your personal information. It will also calculate possible subsidies you may qualify for.

The Morgan County Library is also offering programs to assist you in signing up for health care.  A MD Wise representative will be on hand to answer any questions you may have concerning the Health Insurance Marketplace at the main branch in Martinsville on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm and again on Monday, December 2 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Monrovia Branch.