Free Help Available to Enroll in Health Insurance

The open enrollment period to apply for health insurance with HealthSourceRI runs from November 1 to December 31. Area residents who would like assistance in deciding which plan is right for them and/or in applying for insurance can find free help at East Bay Community Action Program.

The agency’s “Navigators” are now booking appointments to assist people with enrolling in insurance. To schedule an appointment in Newport call 401-847-7821 x.348 and in East Providence call 401-437-1000, option 3. Individuals seeking assistance can leave a message, including their name and phone number. Calls will be returned within 48-hours.

Appointments are scheduled at three primary sites: 100 Bullocks Point Avenue in East Providence, 6 John H. Chafee Boulevard in Newport, and 19 Broadway in Newport. Some evening appointments are also available.

When asked about what applicants will need to bring to appointments, Carla Wahnon, Manager of Integrated Health Care, stated “Document needs will vary on a case-by-case basis, so the Navigator will screen individuals and discuss their unique requirements. Generally, it is recommended that, at a minimum, individuals bring: documentation of income for all in the tax household (example: last 4 weeks of paystubs if applicable), most recent tax forms (including social security numbers for all in tax household), and identification (example: driver’s license, immigration documentation, copy of passport).”

East Bay Community Action Program is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation that provides a wide array of health and human services to the residents of Rhode Island’s east bay including the municipalities of: East Providence, Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport and Jamestown. For more information regarding services and to learn how you too can Support the CAP which supports the East Bay community, please visit ebcap.org.