Rutgers, Health and Human Services to Help Newark Residents Enroll in Health Insurance Wed., Feb. 12

WHAT: Rutgers School of Nursing and Department of Health and Human Services to assist residents of three Newark public housing facilities in signing up for health insurance through the health insurance marketplace.

WHEN: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12

WHERE: Jordan and Harris Community Health Center, 17 Pennington Court, Newark

BACKGROUND: Rutgers' certified application counselors and navigators will join with School of Nursing and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) representatives to help residents sign up for health insurance. This will mark the first time many residents will have health insurance. The current open enrollment deadline is March 31. After that, the next open enrollment period for 2014 coverage begins Nov. 15, 2014. The Jordan and Harris Community Health Center, founded in 2010, serves residents of the Hyatt Court, Pennington Court and Terrell Homes public housing facilities in Newark’s Ironbound section with on-site nurses and a team of community health workers.

According to HHS, more than 6 million Americans have become enrolled in private health insurance or Medicaid through the insurance marketplace, along with 3 million adults under 26. In New Jersey, pacing at a rate consistent with other states that offer enrollment through a federally facilitated marketplace, approximately 35,000 people have enrolled in a private plan. HHS anticipates that number to climb to 96,000 by March 31.

Media interested in covering should contact Jeff Tolvin at (973) 972-4501 or email him at jeff.tolvin@rutgers.edu