Bronson Healthcare Offers Free Insurance Enrollment Assistance

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Open enrollment in the Healthcare Marketplace began on November 1, 2023. The Bronson Healthcare system is once again providing free, in-person assistance during a series of upcoming events, starting in December. Guidance will also be available for those who enrolled through the marketplace last year and need to renew their health insurance for 2024, as well as for persons wanting to enroll in the Marketplace for the first time.

A Certified Application Counselor from Bronson's Department of Community Health Advancement will be available during these walk-in events to offer free, one-on-one help to answer questions about plan selection, cost and provider options, as well as to help navigate the Healthcare.gov website.

Those seeking insurance should be aware of important deadlines for 2024 coverage:

• Open enrollment period is November 1, 2023 to January 16, 2024.
  Those who haven't enrolled in coverage by January 15, 2024, aren’t eligible for Healthcare Marketplace health insurance coverage for 2024 unless they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

• The deadline for renewals and/or updating coverage is January 16, 2024.
  In most cases, those who purchased insurance through the Marketplace for 2023 coverage will be automatically re-enrolled into a comparable plan for 2024 unless a new plan is selected by January 16. It's important to compare plans and update information through Healthcare.gov as pricing has changed and to ensure tax credits are calculated correctly for 2024. In some cases, automatic renewals will not occur.

Current enrollment assistance event dates and locations are below, with more to come in 2024.

• Kalamazoo Public Library: Coffee and Connect
  Tuesday, December 5, 2023 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
  Monday, December 18, 2023 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am
  Monday, January 29, 2024 | 9:00 am - 11:00 am
• South Haven Memorial Library
  Monday, December 11, 2023 | 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
  Tuesday, January 2, 2024 |10:30 am – 12:30 pm

• We Care Community Resource Center, 1301 M-43 South, South Haven, MI 49090
  Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | 9:00 am – 12:00 am
  Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | 9:00 am – 11:00 am

If you plan to attend an in-person event, please bring the following items with you:

• your social security number or document number if you are an immigrant
• estimated income information for 2024
• policy numbers for any current health insurance plan you may already have
• email address
• username and password information if you already have a Healthcare.gov account

Those who want help with renewals or signing up for health insurance, or would like more information, may contact Sally Wilkins at 269-341-8355 or email wilkisal@bronsonhg.org.