Despite Shutdown, Local Health Center Draws Residents to Enroll in Health Insurance Marketplace

The Greater Prince William Community Health Center drew in nearly a hundred people on Oct. 1 to learn about the new health insurance marketplace.  

The Health Center offers primary, prenatal, dental, and behavioral care on site, and partners with specialists to enable patients to quickly find other services that they might need, such as a podiatrist or a radiologist. The center also works with both insured and uninsured patients.

Despite www.Healthcare.gov being down for most of the day, Certified Assistance Counselors at the Health Center fielded calls and helped with paper applications.

"For all of the day’s visitors, enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace offers new opportunities.  For Paula Thornhill of Dumfries, the marketplace allows affordable coverage," a release from the Health Center read. "She will no longer be uninsured, a big concern for the mother of infant, Serenity and son, Daniel.  For another family, they are now able to receive coverage for an existing medical condition that was previously denied in coverage."

The Health Center is offering three Virginia Marketplace Information Sessions at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, Oct. 21 and Oct. 28. In addition, the counselors will continue to give free education and enrollment help through March 31, 2014, when open enrollment ends. The counselors speak both English and Spanish, and are available Monday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To learn more, visit www.GPWHealthCenter.org. To schedule an appointment, call 703.680.7950.