Outreach Program

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Outreach and Enrollment Assistance

Eau Claire Cooperative Health Center (ECCHC) has been designated as a Certified Application Counselor (CHC) Organization, which means we can help you understand the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”, also known as Obamacare) and assist you in applying for affordable health coverage.

What is the Marketplace?

The Marketplace is an online tool, established under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), where consumers can apply for, compare, and enroll in private health insurance plans. While consumers can still purchase insurance plans outside of The Marketplace, The Marketplace is the only program where consumers can see if they qualify for tax credits (to help pay monthly premiums) or cost-sharing reductions (to lower out-of-pocket costs, such as co-pays and deductibles).

When can I apply for coverage?

You can take action as soon as November 1, 2020. If you want your health coverage to start January 1, 2021, you must enroll in a plan by December 15, 2020. Enrolling by this date will ensure you don’t have a break in coverage. You can change your plan selection any time during Open Enrollment, which ends December 15, 2020.

How will I know if I’m eligible?

If you need assistance with the application process, you can contact our Certified Application Counselors for more information at 803.754.0887.

What can I do to be prepared to apply?

To learn more before you fill out an insurance application, use the following links:

•    Get a quick overview of the Health Insurance Marketplace with these 5 health insurance tips to help you apply.

•    See if you’ll save on health insurance coverage.
•    Learn how to estimate your income before you fill out an application.
•    Use this simple checklist (PDF) to gather the documents you’ll need.
•    Sign up for email and text message reminders to get important health coverage information.
•    Contact the Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get your questions answered.
•    Visit our Find Local Help page and search by city and state or ZIP code to get personalized help in your community.
•    Browse our glossary to find definitions of basic insurance terms, like deductible, co-payment, and out-of-pocket maximum.