According to Georgia Legal Services (GLS), more than 170,000 Georgians have lost Medicaid this year. But that doesn’t mean that those who have lost Medicaid have to do without health insurance.
On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, GLS will host an in-person assistance workshop at Satilla Regional Library to help individuals in Coffee County explore their healthcare insurance options. “Our goal is to reach people who aren’t familiar with the issues surrounding healthcare and who don’t know their options,” says Mitzy Sharp Futro, Director of Communications for GLS.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia issued a “do not drop” order regarding Medicaid. Now that the pandemic is over, states — including Georgia — are re-determining individuals’ and families’ Medicaid eligibility. The result is that many people are losing their Medicaid coverage. “There could be several reasons why a person or family gets dropped. Our goal is to determine if in fact people are eligible for Medicaid, if they can appeal, or if they can find insurance coverage in the marketplace,” says Futro.
Those individuals who are conducting the workshops are referred to as navigators. The GLS navigators will also help people who don’t have health insurance — even if they never had Medicaid — find a plan on the open market. Or, if people already have a plan, the navigators can help them change their coverage.
The workshop is free. However, there may be costs associated with a given healthcare insurance plan. GLS’s goal is to keep those costs as low as possible.
It’s not required but anyone who would like to attend the workshop is encouraged to register in advance. Attendees can reserve their space by calling 866-442-3676 or email GeorgiaEnroll@GLSP.org for an appointment. Attendees also need to bring two items: Medicaid Termination Notice 2) last two pay stubs.
If a person cannot attend the workshop but would like to speak with someone, he or she can set up an appointment online. “We want to provide free and unbiased information to people who need health coverage. We want to help them identify what’s important to them. And we can do that in-person or online,” says Futro.
The November 15 workshop will be held from 10AM-2PM at the Satilla Regional Library in Douglas. The library is located at 200 S. Madison Ave, Suite D.
The last day to enroll for health insurance to be in effect by January 1, 2024 is December 15.