Marketplace open enrollment is only available
from November 1, 2018 through December 15, 2018.
If you need help accessing health insurance through the Marketplace, or you would like to learn more about the Marketplace Assistance Program, contact Sami Schrage at 314.256.8777.
Legal Services’ Marketplace Assistance Program (MAP) helps individuals and families access no-cost or low-cost health insurance through the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace.
The Marketplace Assistance Program can help you:
- Find out if you qualify for no-cost or low-cost health insurance
- Apply or re-enroll for the Marketplace plan that best fits your needs
- Apply for an exemption from the tax penalty if you don’t have health insurance
MAP also works with school district staff and other community organizations to reach out to individuals and families who need help with Marketplace insurance. We work closely with two other programs at Legal Services: Connecting Kids to Coverage and Advocates for Family Health, both of which help children, parents and pregnant women recieve healthcare coverage.
What is the Marketplace?
The Marketplace is a website that lets people compare and buy for the health insurance plan that best fits their budget and needs. You can use the Marketplace if you are an individual or family who doesn’t have access to affordable health insurance coverage through an employer.
What kinds of financial help are available?
You may qualify for no-cost or low-cost health insurance through the Marketplace. Premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions help make healthcare more affordable. Premium tax cedits lower the cost of the monthly premium you pay for your insurance, and cost-sharing reductions lower your out-of-pocket expenses when you need medical care.
This financial help uses a sliding scale, so individuals and families making less money pay a smaller amount for both health insurance and health care.
What happens if I don’t buy health insurance?
Most Americans are now required to have health insurance, or will have to pay a penalty when they file their annual taxes. If you don’t have health insurance this year, you may be able to apply for an exemption from the tax penalty through the Marketplace.
If you need help accessing health insurance through the Marketplace, or you would like to learn more about the Marketplace Assistance Program, contact Sami Schrage at 314.256.8777.
Staff
Geoffrey Oliver
Attorney, complex cases
Sami Schrage
Attorney, Outreach & Enrollment Specialist
Other helful resources:
- Health Reform FAQ: Answers about the new health insurance rules and the Health Insurance Marketplace from the Kaiser Family Foundation
- Subsidy Calculator: gives an estimate of what financial help you can get for health insurance purchased through the Marketplace.
- Healthcare.gov: Find out more about your health insurance options and how to apply for coverage.
Funding for this program was provide in part by The Missouri Foundation for Health, a philanthropic organization whose vision is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is a member of the Cover Missouri Coalition, a project of the Missouri Foundation for Health to promote quality, affordable health coverage for every Missourian.
