October 1, 2013

The Gulf Coast Health Insurance Marketplace Collaborative will help residents in Harris and 12 surrounding counties explore affordable health insurance options through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

The collaborative, a consortium of 13 organizations which includes the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS), will provide navigators and certified application counselors to facilitate enrollment and answer questions about eligibility and insurance coverage as offered through the Affordable Care Act. It is estimated some 27 percent of residents in the 13-county region are uninsured.

Residents will have access to more than 40 insurance plans from which they may choose the coverage level that best fits their budget. Participating agencies are using federal funds to target coordination of regional outreach efforts, including a special focus on geographically and linguistically isolated people.  The enrollment period starts today and runs through March 31, 2014.

Agencies comprising the collaborative are HDHHS, Change Happens, Enroll America, Gateway to Care, Harris County Area Agency on Aging, Harris County Healthcare Alliance, Harris Health System, Houston Area Urban League, Memorial Hermann Health System, One Voice Texas, Texans Together, Texas Organizing Project and Vecino Health Centers.

For more information and to obtain enrollment assistance, visit EnrollGulfCoast.com or call 832-393-5423 or toll-free 1-855-892-8082. Residents can also visit the national Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov.