- Champaign County Health Care Consumers - https://www.healthcareconsumers.org -

December 2022 – Give the gift of health and security!  Please support CCHCC!

Health insurance and public benefits are complicated.

December 2022

En Español: Esta es una carta solicitando una donación para el trabajo que hace CCHCC. Si tiene preguntas sobre esta carta, o para mas información sobre donando a CCHCC, llame a (217) 352-6533 y pregunte por Chris o Adani.

By now, most people know that CCHCC is the only organization in Champaign County that can help enroll community members in all forms of health insurance – whether that be Medicaid, Marketplace, or Medicare and Medicare-related programs. But did you know that CCHCC does more than health insurance enrollment work?

Over the years, CCHCC has grown in our ability and expertise to help community members enroll in a wide variety of public programs, including SNAP (food stamps), LIHEAP (energy assistance), hospital financial assistance, disability benefits such as SSI/SSDI, as well as many other programs including Secretary of State discounts for seniors and others. CCHCC has grown our capacity to be able to provide these forms of assistance because we saw the need in our community.

However, did you know that Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC) currently does not get any  federal or state funding to help community members enroll in health insurance or other public benefit programs? And yet, even without federal or state funding, CCHCC has been doing enrollment work for Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace plans, as well as other programs for years. And our services are free!

CCHCC staff are federally Certified Application Counselors, and we provide our free services to help thousands of community members get, and keep, affordable health insurance. Besides ACA Marketplace plans, our staff also help with Medicare enrollment, Open Enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, and Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care plans.  

How can we do this work without federal or state grants? The funding that supports CCHCC’s enrollment work comes from community support – including from individual contributions from people like you!

New! Breaking news regarding the ACA’s Marketplace! CCHCC has great news for individuals and families who are struggling with the costs of employer-sponsored health insurance!

Recent changes to the ACA’s Marketplace have now made it possible for people to apply for health insurance and subsidies (financial assistance) in the Marketplace, even if they have health insurance available through their employer or a family member’s employer.

Previously, these individuals would have NOT been eligible for subsidies (financial assistance) through the Marketplace if they had access to employer-sponsored health insurance in their family. This was called “the family glitch”. The “family glitch” has now been eliminated, so more people will have the opportunity to choose health plans through the ACA Marketplace, and to potentially qualify for financial assistance to make those plans affordable!

New! Medicaid benefits expanded for immigrants in Illinois! We have more good news regarding health insurance! Many immigrants in our community are low-income and cannot afford health insurance. Thankfully, the State of Illinois is in the forefront of making Medicaid coverage available to many immigrants, regardless of their immigration status. Over the years, the State of Illinois has made Medicaid coverage available to immigrant children and seniors aged 65 and older. But recently – this year! – Medicaid is now available to low-income immigrants aged 55 and over, regardless of immigration status.

Please consider making a contribution to help support CCHCC’s ongoing work to enroll as many community members as possible in affordable health insurance. As the end of the year approaches, so does the end of the Open Enrollment for the ACA Marketplace (Medicare Open Enrollment ended on December 7). Our enrollment work does not end when the Open Enrollment periods close. Community members need help year-round, when their life circumstances change – whether as a result of a change in jobs, moving, getting married, having a baby, or aging into Medicare – and CCHCC is here to help whenever they need us! And in turn, we need your help! Please consider making a financial contribution to support CCHCC’s work.

Experienced staff with highly-specialized skills are here to help year-round! CCHCC’s staff are the most experienced enrollment workers in our community! Thanks to community support from people like you, CCHCC has been able to retain staff and build our expertise in health insurance enrollment. This work is complicated and can be difficult, but our staff have highly specialized skills and knowledge to help our community members enroll in health insurance. We help community members get covered during Open Enrollment, and beyond Open Enrollment – people need help year-round, when life circumstances change, and their health insurance options and needs change. In addition, we help people enroll in many other benefit programs that can help stabilize their health and their financial lives.

Please consider making a contribution to help support CCHCC’s ongoing work to enroll as many community members as possible in affordable health insurance. We want to help enroll as many individuals and families as possible during Open Enrollment, and beyond – whenever they need us.  

Thank you for your support! We appreciate your financial support for our services. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier community – together, we are giving the gift of health!

DONATE NOW! [1]

Sincerely,
Claudia Lennhoff
Executive Director
Champaign County Health Care Consumers