Have you enrolled in a health plan yet?

Avoid Penalties and Enroll in Coverage by February 15

The deadline to enroll in health coverage for 2015 is rapidly approaching. 

Open Enrollment closes on February 15, 2015. As a reminder, each year people may have a chance to keep or change their current plan or pick a new one during the annual Open Enrollment period. All 2014 health plans will come up for renewal during Open Enrollment.

Since unexpected issues happen to everyone, having health insurance can actually save you money. Also, if you do not get insurance coverage for 2015, you may be subject to a penalty on your tax return. This fee is either 2 percent of your yearly household or $325 per adult, whichever is higher. For children under the age of 18 the fee is $162.50. You’ll pay the fee on your 2015 federal income tax return. Most people will file this return in 2016.

Some Americans who remain uninsured will qualify for exemptions. If you are without insurance for less than 3 months, you may not have to pay a penalty. You may qualify for an exemption from the penalty if:

• You don’t have to file a tax return because your income is too low. 
• You’re a card-holding member of a federally recognized tribe or eligible for services through an Indian Health Services provider. 
• You’re a member of a recognized health care sharing ministry. 
• You’re a member of a recognized religious sect with religious objections to insurance, including Social Security and Medicare. 
• You’re incarcerated (either detained or jailed). 
• You’re not lawfully present in the U.S. 
• You qualify for a hardship exemption such as filing for bankruptcy or being homeless, evicted in the past 6 months or facing eviction or foreclosure. 

You can learn more about how to sign up for coverage and the tax penalty on the becoveredillinois.org website.

Enrollment Resources
As we approach the end of open enrollment, we want to remind you about the resources available to you. For questions about renewing or choosing a plan on Get Covered Illinois, the Official Health Marketplace, visit getcoveredillinois.gov or call 866-311-1119. Assistance is available Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Be Covered has resources to help people understand how to sign up for, renew or change their existing coverage on the becoveredillinois.org website. We encourage you to share this information with your friends and family.

Help Spread the Word 
Be Covered is working to get resources to as many people as possible. You can help support our social media outreach efforts to remind people of the February 15 final deadline to enroll for health insurance coverage in 2015. All you need to do is visit our Thunderclap page and all of your Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr followers will receive a message about the enrollment deadline from Be Covered. It’s easy and will only take you a few minutes to support. Visit Thunderclap today.

Attend the Countdown To Coverage Health Fair

Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 AM-5 PM

Enrollment Is Around The Corner

Each year, you will have a chance to keep or change your plan during Open Enrollment on GetCoveredIllinois.gov. Get Covered Illinois is the website where you can compare and shop for health coverage that fits your budget. Open Enrollment starts this year on November 15, 2014, and closes on February 15, 2015.

 

 

Learn more terms by visiting www.becoveredillinois.org today. 

 

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Social Media

If your organization posts on Facebook or tweets, please consider posting our messages this week.  

 

Facebook:

• Prescription drugs are a big part of your health care plan, and taking your medications as directed is essential to staying in good health. Your new health plan will help pay the cost of certain drugs. #BeCovered 

Twitter:

• Open Enrollment is the period when you choose from available health plans, usually once a year. More at BeCoveredIllinois.org. 

 

Share Our Posts

Please share our post on your organization’s Facebook page to inform your members about how they can take advantage of preventative services if they already have insurance:

• Preventative Services

 

Open Enrollment is Around the Corner

The Open Enrollment period is November 15, 2014 to February 15, 2015. All 2014 health plans will come up for renewal in 2015. You have four weeks to enroll if you need coverage starting January 1, 2015. You can see if you can get help paying for coverage, choose to keep your plan or pick a new one.

It is important to remember that even if you are getting financial help for your current plan, you might be eligible for more. Visit HealthCare.gov to see how much financial help you may get.

Also, any changes in your income or family size will need to be updated on the Marketplace. If these changes aren't reported, you might owe money at the end of 2015 when you file your tax return.

Be Covered has the resources you need on our website and will be providing tips and updates by social media and emails throughout the Open Enrollment period.

Expecting the Unexpected

It is important to understand your insurance and the options available to you and your family, especially during significant life events such as starting a business, having a baby, losing a job, losing Medicaid or getting covered as a young adult. 

BeCoveredIllinois.org has resources to help you make the right decisions and get the most out of your coverage. We encourage you to share these resources with your family, friends and colleagues.

Here are two posts you can use to promote these resources with your social networks:

• Facebook:
  • Your new health plan covers care before and after your child is born. It offers benefits to help you take care of yourself and baby. You will not have to pay copays or added costs for many important services during and after pregnancy. #BeCovered
  • If your parent’s new health plan covers children, then you can be added to or kept on their health insurance until you turn 26 years old. #BeCovered
• Twitter:
  • Starting a business? The #ACA offers coverage choices for small business owners. #BeCovered
    Running or walking 30 mins a day helps maintain a healthy weight: http://bit.ly/1qyDV8C #BeCovered

Kappa Brothers needed to support "PlayStreeets" Violence Prevention Program

Friday, August 15, 2014, 1 PM-7 PM 6543 S. Champlain Ave., Chicago, IL 60637 View this email in your browser Kevin Scott EGIF/Woodlawn Community Safety & Security Liaison Dear Brothers,  The Edward G. Irvin Foundation (EGIF) has partnered with existing community organizations within the Woodlawn neighborhood, in our effort to merge cohesively with the community in which our new facility will be a part. One of these organizations is the Woodlawn Public Safety Alliance (WPSA). On Friday, August 15, 2014, from 2-8 PM, the WPSA is requesting that EGIF and theChicago (IL) Alumni Chapter partner with them and several other community organizations to participate in an effort to try to stop the violence and give the youth of Woodlawn safe, alternative activities. The event will take place at Emmett Louis Till Math and Science Academy  (Till Learning Academy) 6543 S. Champlain Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 Get Directions The program is called,PlayStreets and is sponsored by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the City of Chicago. They are asking us to come and engage the youth in various athletic activities as well as assist with setup and break down (before, during and after the event). Specifically, they are asking our Brothers to support the event as follows: Set up games and events; Interact with the youth by conducting activities such as basketball, soccer, handball, volleyball, etc.; Help to serve food; and Tear down and clean-up The following video will provide some idea of what our PlayStreets would look like:   http://www.myfoxchicago.com/clip/10382961/play-streets. Theattachment in this link provides similar details about the event. Brothers can sign up to come and assist during the entire time of the event or for portions of the event when they are available. Please contact Brother Kevin Scott via email atKPScott3@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and participation. Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter needs all hands on deck to represent Kappa Alpha Psi, Chicago Alumni and EGIF in a positive light. This is our first impression upon the community and we need to show the community who we are and form a strong relationship with them from the onset. Let us show the Woodlawn community who Kappa Alpha Psi is and that we are Achievers! Yours in the Bond, Kevin Scott Copyright © 2014 Chicago Alumni (IL) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., All rights reserved.  You are receiving this e-mail because you requested updates and information from us.  Our mailing address is:  Chicago Alumni (IL) Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. P.O. Box 19599 Chicago, IL 60619-0599 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list   update subscription preferences

Be Covered Action Alert: The Health Insurance Marketplace might need more information from you

Some consumers who bought insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace are being contacted by the federal government because the information in their account can’t be verified, including if the income reported doesn’t match their IRS reported income or they don’t have adequate residency documentation.

If contacted, they will have 30 days to follow up to make sure the Marketplace has their correct information.

The Marketplace will let those people affected know when their information has been verified and the issue has been resolved. If consumers don’t send the necessary documents, they could be in jeopardy of losing their Marketplace coverage or financial assistance they may be receiving to pay for such coverage.

Be Covered will continue to provide updates to you, and in the meantime, more information can be found at: http://1.usa.gov/1oABC4H or by calling the Marketplace Call Center at 1‐800‐318‐2596.

Less than a week

We are less than a week away until March 31sr, the last day to enroll for Health Insurance in ordered to Be Covered in 2014. Do you still have questions about enrolling in healthcare?

 

Need to know the maximum amount you have to pay for eligible Health Insurance expenses? You can see it and compare different plans at the online Health Insurance Marketplace. Shop now, beforeMarch 31st enrollment deadline for 2014 coverage. #Countdown2Coverage

For more information visit https://www.healthcare.gov.

 

 

Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Aloha Psi Fraternity Incorporated is proud to partner with Be Covered, a grassroots organization dedicated to engage, educate, and enroll the uninsured.

 

In addition to providing a bilingual website, informational materials, and a text campaign, Be Covered Illinois has also launched a bilingual consumer education hotline: 1- 888-809-2796. Consumers can call this toll-free number Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for more information about requirements of the new federal health care law.

 

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To find out how the new healthcare law affects you, visit www.BeCoveredIllinois.org.

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‘Like’ Be Covered on Facebook: www.facebook.com/becovered.org

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Follow Be Covered on Twitter: www.twitter.com/becovered

 

 

The #Countdown2Coverage is Underway!

After a year-long effort to reach uninsured Illinois residents, and with only weeks left before the March 31st enrollment deadline, Be Covered Illinois has launched a Countdown to Coverage campaign. The campaign will raise awareness of the upcoming deadline and the importance of having health insurance, and to answer people’s questions about coverage options and the enrollment process.

As a reminder, Be Covered launched another Thunderclap on social media that highlights the Countdown to Coverage campaign. If you haven’t already would you mind taking a minute to support this from your social media accounts? All you need to do is visit the Thunderclap page and support with your Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr account. It’s easy and will take you less than a minute to support. Here’s the link: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/9448-countdown-to-coverage?locale=en

Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is proud to partner with Be Covered, a grassroots organization dedicated to engage, educate, and enroll the uninsured.

In addition to providing a bilingual website, informational materials, and a text campaign, Be Covered Illinois has also launched a bilingual consumer education hotline: 1- 888-809-2796. Consumers can call this toll-free number Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT for more information about requirements of the new federal health care law.

• To find out how the new healthcare law affects you, visit www.BeCoveredIllinois.org.
• ‘Like’ Be Covered on Facebook: www.facebook.com/becovered.org
• Follow Be Covered on Twitter: www.twitter.com/becovered