Every day, it’s Allen Gjersvig’s mission to get the word out to rural and low-income folks across Arizona that there’s an opportunity for affordable health care. But after their advertising Grant from the government was cut from about $1 million to $300,000, getting the word out has a been a challenge.
“So we have to rely on word of mouth, talk to local reporters and a lot of social media,” said Gjersvig, director of the Arizona Alliance For Community Health.
Gjersvig says about 55,000 people have signed up so far in Arizona, that’s 20 percent fewer people than this time last year. He says knowing if you're eligible for Obamacare is easy to figure out.
“It’s pretty simple. Do you already have insurance from your employer? Or are you covered by Medicaid or Medicare? You don’t have to worry," he said. "If you are uninsured you can give us a call or go to healthcare.gov and you can find out if you’re qualified. If you make too much to qualify for discounts then you move into the market. In Arizona, 9 out of 10 people who move into the marketplace received financial assistance."
Gjersvig also says be sure to use healthcare.gov because it’s the only official site. He also says no matter what your age or how healthy you are– buying health insurance is an investment you shouldn’t live without.
“If you’re a little bit older and you’ve acquired a house and assets you risk losing all of that because no matter if you have insurance or not, you’re going to get a bill,” said Gjersvig.
You can also call the 24-hour line 800-318-2596. Assistants can speak 51 languages. Remember a family of four can make up to $100,000 and you can still qualify for some discounts on costs.