***For Immediate Release***
December 19, 2014
“500 By The 15th” campaign widely surpasses health insurance enrollment goal
Organizations assist nearly 900 Nebraskans in new or renewed coverage plans
LINCOLN — A statewide campaign to help at least 500 Nebraskans enroll in health insurance or renew previous plans in the first half of December was a resounding success, Enroll Nebraska announced today.
Enroll Nebraska, a statewide network of health care providers, community organizations, in-person assisters, and advocacy groups, revealed that participating organizations helped 893 Nebraskans either enroll or renew coverage plans through the Health Insurance Marketplace during the “500 By The 15th” campaign.
“This success is a result of so much hard work by Nebraska organizations to help our friends and neighbors understand their health insurance options and make sure people got the coverage they need,” said Eric Savaiano, Statewide Coordinator of Enroll Nebraska. “I want to thank all of the local Community Action Partnerships, local public health departments, and members of the Health Center Association of Nebraska for all of their effort to help Nebraskans get covered.”
During the “500 By The 15th” campaign, participating organizations held special enrollment events, extended their office hours, and collected commitment cards to remind people to keep their enrollment appointments.
These efforts resulted in 571 new enrollments and 322 renewed coverage plans.
Nebraskans still have until February 15, 2015, to sign up for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, and local organizations across the state continue to serve as a free, helpful resource for people looking to compare health insurance options and see what tax credits they may qualify for.
“The ‘500 By The 15th’ campaign was a great success, but our work is far from done this period,” said Elaine Avila, Certified Application Counselor at Midtown Health Center in Norfolk. “We encourage everyone who still needs health coverage to contact a local assister and set up an appointment to see what health insurance plan may fit their needs and their budget.”
Nebraskans can find a free, local assister on this map. Or help is available over the phone by calling, toll-free 1-800-318-2596.
For media requests: Contact Nebraska Appleseed Communications Director Jeff Sheldon at (402) 438-8853 or jsheldon@neappleseed.org.