Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) is inviting the public to a community forum about the Vermont Health Connect Exchange on November 12, 2013.
Join the conversation to learn more about the state’s new health insurance marketplace, which is designed to help you, your family or your small business find, compare and enroll in health insurance coverage.
According to the State’s Health Care Reform website at hcr.vermont.gov, “The Exchange is an online marketplace for health insurance products that requires all vendors (insurance carriers and state health programs) to play by the same rules. In 2011, the Vermont legislature passed Act 48 — a law that created the Vermont Health Benefit Exchange. Vermonters will be able to start shopping for health plans on October 1, 2013 and the Exchange plans will kick in on January 1, 2014. The Exchange will be the only place where individuals and businesses with 50 or fewer employees can get health insurance.”
Joan Bowman, the insurance exchange navigator on the BMH Community Health Team, says, “Help is available every step of the way — online, by phone or in person. Come to this community forum to compare health insurance plans side-by-side, to get financial help to pay for coverage, and to sign up for a health insurance plan that suits your needs and budget. Please come prepared with knowledge of your income based on your most recent tax return or pay stubs, and information about your medical needs.”
The BMH Community Health Team has a variety of skilled healthcare professionals available to assist community members with the tools and support you need to reach your personal health goals. Based on your individual needs, they work with you to assess your situation, develop plans, and establish attainable goals that move you in the right direction, one step at a time. In addition to your overall health needs, your Community Health Team can help you in many other areas, including: financial, insurance, emotional, educational, substance abuse, transportation, and/or physical assistance.
The Vermont Health Connect community forum will take place from 5 to 8 PM in the Brew Barry Conference at BMH. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit VermontHealthConnect.gov online or call 1-855-899-9600 (toll-free). Additional online resources include: Facebook (Vermont Health Connect), Twitter (@VTHealthConnect) and YouTube (VTHealthConnect.)
BMH has provided healthcare services for over one hundred years. A licensed, 61-bed, not-for-profit community hospital located in southeastern Vermont, it serves a rural population of about 55,000 people in 22 towns in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The medical staff includes 137 board-certified physicians, both primary care and many specialists, and its 572 employees enjoy the help of over 110 active volunteers.
