Md. Officials Work To Help People Sign Up For Obamacare
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland health care advocates took another step in the direction of getting residents signed up for Obamacare.
Political reporter Pat Warren reports new ads promote a 211 number.
Redskins fans will recognize linebacker London Fletcher and former player turned commentator Doc Walker in the health care ad.
"There's a new way for people who don't have health insurance to get low cost or free coverage. You call 211 to find out if you're eligible. That's a winning call," the ad said.
The ad promotes 211 as a reliable way of connecting to affordable care.
"The Affordable Care Act is certainly more than a website," said Lt. Governor Anthony Brown.
The website has had its care of troubles. Out of the 106,000 Americans who signed up nationwide, 1,284 of them are Marylanders. Another 3,300 have enrolled in Medicaid.
The state health department reports 11,000 have completed applications but have yet to choose a plan.
"We're putting every resource we can -- whether it's the 211, whether it's the health connection -- to make sure that we can achieve our goal, which is that every Marylander has the highest quality health care at the lowest cost we can possibly deliver it," Brown said.
Promoting the 211 service is aimed at getting people started.
"You've got London Fletcher, who has been playing for 16 years, 250 straight games. He obviously knows something about health care and then you got a football player who they call Doc," Brown said.
The deadline to sign up for policies to take effect in January is Dec. 15.
To avoid a federal penalty, all uninsured Marylanders have to sign up by March 31, 2014.
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