For consumers to get health insurance that starts on January 1st, they would have to buy the policy by this Monday. Some hospitals are ramping up plans to get patients signed up for insurance when they come through the emergency room.Both Florida Hospital and Orlando Health are expanding a program to put health care navigators in the hospital. Navigators are there to help people sign up for insurance.
“Currently we have navigators at five of our locations", said Tom Yoesle, chief operating officer of revenue management for Orlando Health. "We’re opening up at additional locations at one of those hospitals for additional navigator space.”
Yoesle made the announcement as Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell paid a visit to Orlando to promote the affordable care act.
So far, 765,000 people have signed up for health insurance in the health law’s second year.
For Florida Hospital, 55% of the people who come through the emergency room don’t have health insurance. And most can be treated outside of the ER.
Now, many of those without insurance qualify may qualify for subsidies to make the plans cheaper.