MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A federally funded nonprofit headquartered in Marion County is ready to try and help West Virginians not covered by health insurance get processed to do so.
WV Navigator will host a free, in-person health coverage enrollment event at the Marion County Health Department on Thursday, April 10, at their offices on the 3rd floor of the Marion County Health Department from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Program Director Jeremy Smith encouraged those who are uninsured, have recently been removed from employer health insurance due to layoffs or other factors, or just want to explore alternative insurance coverage to stop on by and see what can be offered to them.
“We wanted to do an event in the area just to help people who are looking for health insurance right now,” said Smith. “We know there has been a lot of job loss in the area, so we’re doing a walk-in event at the Marion County Health Department.”
According to Smith, any West Virginia resident will be able to attend and speak with a WV Navigator representative to discuss the variety of options available under ACA Marketplace Health Insurance. This will include options for people with families, pre-existing conditions, or income levels that have hampered their ability to acquire healthy insurance from private sector providers. With options as low as $10 per month available through the expanded subsidy rules, Smith encourages anyone in need of health insurance to check out what WV Navigator can present.
“First thing we’re going to do is sit down and figure out what your estimated 2025 income is, what your family size is, and then help you figure out and show you all the different options,” said Smith.
The Thursday event will be the third that has been hosted by WV Navigator over the past month in and around North Central West Virginia. When discussing the recent federal layoffs that have affected thousands of West Virginians, Smith mentioned that similar ACA open enrollment periods have been hosted in Harrison and Monongalia counties as part of agreements with their respective county health departments. With more layoffs expected on a federal level, Smith feels that the organization has a chance to help families across the North Central region.
“People can just come in at any time with no appointment and be able to sit down with a health insurance navigator and ask questions,” said Smith. “So this will be a really good opportunity, if somebody is going without coverage right now, you can stop in and see what your options are.”
WV Navigator is a federally supported nonprofit that not only provides options to state residents regarding ACA but also provides free telephone-based social services. This includes the state-supported help lines for those suffering from addiction, mental health, and suicide, which are run by WV Navigator through parent organization First Choice Services. With a 60-day grace period for those who have recently lost health coverage to sign up, Smith hopes those looking to provide coverage for themselves and their families will consider taking a trip up to Marion County to visit.
“If you can’t get insurance through a job, and especially if you’ve recently lost a job in your employer-based health insurance, this is a really good option,” said Smith. “You should take advantage and see if this is going to be a good fit for you and your family.”