Pennsylvania residents can now enroll in new healthcare coverage, switch healthcare plans, or re-enroll in their current plan on pennie.com, the Pennsylvania insurance exchange marketplace.  

Pennie’s open enrollment period runs from November 1 through January 15. Participants must enroll by December 15 for their coverage to be effective on January 1 of the new year.   

Need help finding a health plan that’s a good fit for you and your family or help navigating Pennie’s online marketplace? The Laurel Health Centers are here to help with free enrollment counseling and support at 570-723-3424. Counseling is open to everyone; you do not have to be a Laurel Health patient to use this free service.    

“We assist patients with reviewing and comparing their coverage options on the state marketplace and/or through insurance affordability programs like Medicaid and CHIP,” explains Carla Westlake, Laurel Health’s certified application counselor. “Our goal is to help everyone find a health plan that is a good fit. Anyone looking for the right affordable coverage is welcome to make an appointment. Free appointments are available year-round to discuss insurance questions and coverage.”  

Carla Westlake has years of experience helping patients review insurance options and navigate enrollment paperwork. Last year, she was awarded the prestigious APEX Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers for her outstanding work with patients and dedication to serving her community.   

Already on a Pennie plan you like? If you intend to keep the same Pennie health plan and take advantage of automatic re-enrollment, make sure to update and verify your 2024 income and household size on pennie.com to confirm your eligibility for financial assistance and avoid any disruptions in coverage.  

Insurance Enrollment Deadlines:  

• Open enrollment for pennie.com insurance runs Nov. 1, 2023 to Jan. 15, 2024.  
• Dec. 15 is the last day to enroll for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2024; if you enroll after Dec. 15, your health coverage begins Feb. 1, 2024. 
• Jan. 15, 2024 is the last day to enroll in pennie.com plans for 2024 coverage. 

Laurel Health offers free enrollment and application help throughout the open enrollment period as well as special enrollment assistance for people experiencing qualifying life events. Qualifying life events impact the type of insurance a person may need or their access to insurance, such as marriage, welcoming a baby, or losing employer-based health coverage. Pennsylvanians experiencing a qualifying event can enroll in or update their Pennie insurance coverage outside of the open enrollment period.  

The Laurel Health Centers aim to make the insurance enrollment process less stressful and empower patients to make informed decisions. Their certified application counselor helps patients compare plans, review eligibility for financial assistance programs, and enroll in healthcare insurance. The Laurel Health Centers provide enrollment assistance for commercial marketplace plans (Pennie.com), Medicaid, and sliding fee programs; for help with Medicare plans, patients should contact their social security office or local Area Agency on Aging office.   

To review health plans, update your income information, or enroll in coverage, visit pennie.com. To make an appointment to discuss your health plan options, contact Carla Westlake at 570-723-3424 or westlakec@laurelhc.org.  

For more information about Laurel Health’s enrollment assistance services, visit laurelhc.org.