January 11, 2022
The open enrollment period ends Jan. 15, 2022
(Austin) – As the deadline to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace approaches this Saturday, Central Health is urging Travis County residents to sign up for coverage.
Central Health has continued the practice of working with Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and SIMS Foundation to offer enrollment support. It is common for musicians to be self-employed or manage multiple jobs to make ends meet, leaving them barely able to afford basic living needs, with no flexibility for health care costs. These circumstances became significantly worse over the last two years as the pandemic caused many businesses to close in-person operations, including live music performances.
“Living during a pandemic has been a major struggle for everyone, including Austin’s beloved musicians,” Central Health President & CEO Mike Geeslin said. “Through our partnerships with HAAM and SIMS Foundation, we try to ensure as many people as possible can live their healthiest lives.”
For the seventh year in a row, Central Health’s premium assistance program is supporting HAAM and SIMS Foundation missions by paying the balance on insurance premiums for musicians who meet certain income requirements and are eligible for tax credits through the Health Insurance Marketplace (part of the Affordable Care Act). Since 2014, Central Health has invested almost $8 million in the premium assistance program.
The 2022 open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplace runs through Saturday, Jan. 15. For more information on open enrollment for musicians, visit HAAM at www.myhaam.org/open-enrollment, or call (512) 541-4226. Non-musician Travis County residents can get help with filling out applications and selecting plans by contacting Foundation Communities at ProsperHealthCoverage.org, or by calling 512-381-4520 to set up a no-cost phone appointment.
