Funding Opportunity Announced for Illinois In-Person Counselors

Beginning October 1, 2013, the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace will open for enrollment. Pursuant to the Affordable Care Act, the Marketplace will be a website where those seeking insurance coverage can shop for health care and determine if they are eligible for financial assistance with premiums and health costs. In Illinois, we are estimating that more than half of our Health Insurance Marketplace customers will want help enrolling in the program.

In order to meet their needs, Governor Pat Quinn and the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace established the In-Person Counselor program (IPC). IPCs will educate people about the new system, help them understand their health plan choices, and facilitate their selection of the plan that is right for them. IPCs will be instrumental in the Marketplace’s plan to create a statewide “Culture of Coverage” by engaging, educating, and enrolling the uninsured in Illinois in qualified health plans.

Today, the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace is very excited to announce the release of the grant application for the In-Person Counselor program.

The Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Public Health, will be accepting applications through the end of May 2013 from community groups and other qualified organizations who want to participate in the IPC program. The state has designated approximately $28 million in federal funds for grants to participating groups. Organizations that are selected through the online application process will participate in a training and certification process this summer.

For more information about the application process for the Illinois IPC Grant Program, go to: http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/healthcarereform/Pages/IPC.aspx.

Additionally, the Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace will also conduct an informational webinar on Thursday, May 9 at 10:00 AM. Interested groups can register for the webinar by going to https://www305.livemeeting.com/lrs/8002054163/Registration.aspx?PageName=hfhrvf978qb8w95p.

Thank you,

Brian Gorman

Director of Outreach and Consumer Education
Illinois Health Insurance Marketplace