Clock Ticking For Free Healthcare Coverage To People Laid Off

Upper Cumberland residents who have been laid off have 10 days left to enroll for free health care.

Tennessee Healthcare Campaign Volunteer Outreach Coordinator Thomas Savage said if you collected unemployment for one week in 2021 you are eligible. Savage said people do not need to wait to decide on healthcare while the pandemic continues.

“They can be laid off and recently employed,” Savage said. “There’s so many places that don’t provide healthcare, but yeah they’re good to go. This is a good deal and I would encourage them to take advantage of it.”

Savage said all people need to do is call 844-644-5443 to get in touch with a counselor for healthcare sign ups until August 15. Savage said that even if someone calls and cannot get assistance through the Affordable Care Act, counselors will connect people with the entity that can before the deadline.

“Sometimes people call for help and the other people don’t really give you that feeling that, hey they want to help me,” Savage said. “But these counselors, they’re loose and they look to help you and if they cannot help you through the Affordable Care Act, they will direct you to another entity that will be there for you.”

Savage said the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign is making a push across social media to make people aware they can get free healthcare. The number to call to connect for free healthcare is 844-644-5443.