Twin Cities Hosts Seminars to Help Uninsured Prepare for New Laws

Posted: 4:57 pm, June 10, 2013 by Publisher Scott Brennan

15,000 Locals May be Eligible for Subsidized Health Plans under the Affordable Care Act

Twin Cities Community Hospital will host the first in a series of free, public forums designed to educate locals about the new health insurance laws, eligibility regulations and options under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), on Monday, June 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The ACA mandates that every eligible citizen must have health insurance by January 1, 2014, or pay a penalty. Open enrollment for health insurance programs under the act begins in October 2013.

A team of local health insurance professionals along with hospital medical staff will present the educational seminars. Official estimate that there are more than 15,000 San Luis Obispo County citizens who may be eligible for a subsidized health plan under the ACA. With only four months to prepare for commencement of open enrollment, the hospital and executive staff are moving forward quickly to prepare citizens for the change.

Twin Cities Community Hospital’s CEO Mark Lisa says, “The Tenet Family of Services looks forward to this opportunity to serve as an ambassador for health reform and an advocate for our uninsured patients. If there are thousands of citizens currently uninsured in this county, we have a moral obligation to help guide them to information about the plans, coverage, and enrollment processes.”

The series kicks off at Twin Cities Community Hospital with the topic “Understanding the Individual Mandate to Purchase Health Insurance.” The same forum topic will be presented at sister hospital Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, June 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. County Health Officer Penny Borenstein, MD, MPH and Insurance Professional Michael Framberger will be the guest speakers at the forum.

More public seminars will be presented at various locations throughout the region from June through October 2013. In addition to this month’s installment, Twin Cities Community Hospital will host further seminars on July 16 and October 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For a full schedule of seminars, visit www.getcoveredcentralcoast.com. The free forums are open to the public, but seating is limited. People interested in attending should call (800) 483-6387 to reserve a space.