"While enrolling or re-enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace may seem a bit daunting, Knox and Waldo County residents don’t have to do it alone," said MaineHealth, in a news release. 

MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals’ Access to Care team is available to assist community members with their marketplace applications and answer questions about CoverME.gov, the health insurance marketplace website for Mainers. Open enrollment begins on Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15, 2025. 

“A lot of people think they can’t afford insurance, but there are many options available,” said Melissa Moody, Access to Care program manager for MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals. “Most marketplace consumers qualify for tax credits based on their income. Last year, more than eight in 10 consumers qualified for financial assistance to help reduce out-of-pocket costs.” 

According to Moody, all CoverME.gov plans include key benefits like mental health services, maternity care, prescription drug coverage and hospitalizations, and participants can’t be turned away or charged more for pre-existing conditions. Moody encourages consumers to apply each year, even they haven’t found an option that worked for them in the past. She noted that it’s also important to apply for financial savings each year, even if you did not qualify in previous years. 

Participants must enroll by Dec. 15 for coverage that begins Jan. 1, or by Jan. 15 for coverage that begins Feb. 1. To schedule an enrollment appointment with an Access to Care team member, please call the Waldo County office at 207-505-4532 or the Knox County office at 207-301-6980. 

For more information about the marketplace, or to enroll yourself online, visit CoverMe.gov.

About MaineHealth

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include Maine General Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.