Effort will benefit parents and kids who need to sign up for RIte Care and residents eligible for “Special Enrollment Period” during tax season
PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge Elorza announced that the City’s Healthy Communities Office is providing health coverage enrollment assistance at two Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites between now and April 15, 2015 for Providence residents who need help with enrolling in health insurance. The effort is part of the city’s Healthy Coverage Initiative that aims to reduce the city’s number of insured children and families, and is funded by the National League of Cities.
“While open enrollment for health insurance enrollment ended, some residents are still eligible to enroll before April 30,” said Mayor Elorza, “We want to help as many residents as we can get connected to quality, affordable coverage if they still need it, and partnering with volunteer tax assistance sites is a great way to do that.”
The Healthy Communities Office is partnering with Federal Hill House, Dorcas International Institute and the Rhode Island Parent Information Network, who are assisting with providing navigators and certified application counselors to assist residents.
The sites for the program are:
– Federal Hill House, 9 Courtland Street, 02909 – Mondays, 9am- noon; Wednesdays, 9am-noon
– Dorcas International Institute, 645 Elmwood Avenue, 02907; Wednesdays 4pm-7pm; Saturdays 8am-1pm
While the open enrollment period for Healthsource RI ended on February 15, residents who did not have insurance in 2014 and may be eligible to enroll during a special enrollment period that runs from March 15-April 30. In addition, the majority of Providence children and many of their parents are eligible for RIte Care, which residents can enroll in any time during the year. Residents who have questions about whether they may be eligible to enroll now can contact Azade Perin in the Healthy Communities Office at 421-CITY or can also contact HealthsourceRI at 1-855-840-4774. Trained navigators and certified application counselors will meet with any resident who comes to the VITA sites and can let them know if they are eligible to apply for and enroll in coverage at this time.
Residents who do not need tax assistance or have already received such assistance are also welcome, but should bring documents with income and legal residency/citizenship information for anyone in their family in case they are needed during the enrollment process.