PHILADELPHIA, PA., March 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the end of the first open enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act just 18 days away, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is hosting an all-day enroll-a-thon today to help individuals get the coverage they need under the new health care law before the March 31 deadline. As part of the enroll-a-thon activities, the company is participating in a televised event over the course of 16 hours on WPHL17. In addition, IBC licensed sales agents are stationed at a local suburban shopping center and at LOVE Park downtown to help consumers understand, choose, and purchase health coverage.
"There are still too many uninsured people in our region who haven't signed up for health coverage, and we want them to know that under the new law, the safety and security of health insurance may be closer than they think," said Daniel J. Hilferty, IBC president and CEO. "We're determined to provide the uninsured with convenient and easy opportunities to learn about their options and enroll."
Beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) required that almost all Americans obtain health insurance. Individuals who do not have access to health care coverage through an employer or a government program like Medicare or Medicaid must purchase a health insurance plan on their own. According to a February Kaiser Family Foundation poll, 76 percent of uninsured Americans do not know that the ACA requires them to sign up for health insurance by March 31 or risk paying a fine.
Reaching consumers
In conjunction with WPHL17, IBC is hosting an enroll-a-thon today from 8 a.m. to midnight. This televised event features interviews with representatives from IBC who will discuss the key elements that consumers need to know about ACA-compliant health plans and the deadline. A phone bank staffed with IBC licensed agents is on-hand to field questions and to complete enrollments until midnight.
For consumers who want to speak to someone face to face, IBC licensed agents are out in the community helping to enroll individuals in the plans that are right for them. Today, IBC is stationed at two locations:
- The Independence Express, IBC's fully-equipped mobile education and retail sales center, will be stationed at the Bala Cynwyd Shopping Center at 175 East City Avenue from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Independence Express is ADA accessible and internet-enabled.
- Two internet-enabled tents staffed with IBC licensed agents will be set-up at LOVE Park at 1599 John F. Kennedy Boulevard from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to provide Center City consumers with the opportunity to enroll in health coverage right on the spot.
Complimentary coffee and donuts from Dunkin' Donuts will be offered at both locations.
"The goal of the IBC enroll-a-thon is two-fold: We want consumers to understand all of their options and then find the coverage they need," said Brian Lobley, IBC senior vice president, Marketing and Consumer Business. "Consumers want to know how to choose the right plan, and we can guide them through the process – online, by phone, or in person. Our agents can help determine which of our 13 plans make the most sense in terms of coverage and cost. Through our subsidy calculator, we can also help people find out if they are eligible for financial assistance and tax credits to lower the cost of coverage."
Consumers can also enroll in a health plan online at ibx4you.com, by calling 1-855-ibx4you, or through a broker.
Individuals should have their estimated 2014 income and employer coverage information available when they are ready to enroll in a health plan.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 7.5 million people nationwide, including 2.2 million in the region. For more than 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.