News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Tennessee Healthcare Campaign is seeking volunteers to help during this year’s enrollment period.
The campaign works to educate, advocate, and help those in rural areas get affordable healthcare. Outreach Coordinator Tom Savage said volunteers would serve as a connecting point for people looking to enroll.
“The goal is that they will answer that number, the 844 number when a consumer will call, take their information,” Savage said. “And they will set up an appointment with one of our wonderful counselors who will address their needs and look for an affordable plan for them.”
Savage said the only requirement for volunteers is the ability to answer the phone. He said they will host a training session to catch volunteers up to speed.
Savage said anyone can go to healthcare.gov and find the information, but there are many hurdles one would have to go through. He said a lot of people are intimidated or don’t have the means to do this themselves without the help of someone guiding them through it.
“Our volunteers will direct them to that counselor and all they have to do and give that information,” Savage said. “There are 300,000 Tennesseeans who work every day that doesn’t have affordable healthcare. Unless you are above the federal poverty line, there’s no way for you to have healthcare at all.”
Volunteers are needed during the open enrollment period, which ends January 15th.
