FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

December 5, 2016

For More Information:

Dee Dee Bass Wilbon

Internal & External Affairs Liaison

Prince George’s County Department of Social Services

301.909.7073

Dee-dee.bass@maryland.gov

Prince George’s County Health Connect to Hold Health Insurance

Enrollment Events for Maryland Health Connection at Three Libraries

Landover, MD —With two months to go until the end of the 2017 Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment season for health insurance, Prince George’s County Health Connect will hold three health insurance enrollment events at various libraries in Prince George’s County on Saturday, December 10, 2016. Administered by the local Department of Social Services, Prince George’s County Health Connect is the consumer assistance organization authorized to enroll Prince George’s County residents through Maryland Health Connection (MHC).

Prince George’s County Library Enrollment Event Locations:

                Beltsville Branch Library

4319 Selliman Road

Beltsville, MD 20705

10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and

2 pm – 4 pm

Laurel Branch Library

8101 Sandy Spring Road

Laurel, MD 20707

10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Spauldings Branch Library

5811 Old Silver Hill Road

District Heights, MD 20747

1- 5 p.m.

Certified navigators and independent insurance brokers will be on-site to answer questions and enroll Marylanders in health coverage through MHC.  Individuals interested in obtaining insurance should come prepared with a government issued ID, social security number or student visas; if employed, pay stubs or W-2 wage and tax statements and information about your employer health insurance.  

Adults 18 to 64 years of age are required to have health insurance.  Failure to have it can result in tax penalty of $700+ per adult.

MHC is the only place Marylanders can get financial help to cover the cost of health insurance.  Financial assistance includes discounts and tax credits.  While some plans have increased, consumers are often able to offset the increase with discounts. Last year, 9 out of 10 Marylanders received financial help to lower the cost of their plan. 

To begin health or dental insurance by Jan. 1, 2017, individuals must enroll by Dec. 15, 2016. Individuals, who enroll by Jan. 31, will begin coverage on March 1, 2017. Medicaid enrollment is year-round. 

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is a community partner. “We are making sure that we are engaging as many outlets in the community as possible. Libraries are a really good way to reach out to families and individuals, who would like to enroll in health insurance. So many of the resources are there, including free access to computers and secure Wi-Fi; and it’s convenient for residents,” said Gloria Brown Burnett, Director, Prince George’s County Department of Social Services (DSS).

This is the second consecutive year that MHC has sponsored Library Enrollment Day in partnership with the Maryland Association of Public Library Administrators (MAPLA) to provide free, in-person enrollment assistance to consumers at 24 libraries across the state.

“We appreciate the efforts of MAPLA, the participating libraries, and our consumer assistance organizations throughout the state that work with Maryland Health Connection to enroll Marylanders in health insurance through MHC,” said Jon Kromm, acting executive director of Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.

To enroll in health insurance, individuals can apply at MarylandHealthConnection.gov or download the free Enroll MHC app available through Google and App stores. For in-person assistance through Prince George’s County Health Connect, go to www.PGCHealthConnect.org; or call the PGC Consumer Assistance Call Center, (301) 927-4500.  For questions about health coverage, call Maryland Health Connection Call Center at 1-855-642-8572 (TTY: 1-855-642-8573).

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About Maryland Health Connection: Maryland Health Connection (MHC) is the state-based health insurance marketplace for individuals and families to compare and enroll in health insurance, as well as determine eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs, federal tax credits and cost sharing reductions.  MarylandHealthConnection.gov.