DC Health Link and CVS/pharmacy have agreed to join forces to help residents of the District of Columbia learn more about new health coverage options and enroll in quality, affordable insurance beginning on October 1. 

 

All 59 CVS/pharmacy locations in the District will provide education materials for public consumption. Nearly 30 stores will host special enrollment events on selected days throughout the initial six-month enrollment period. Trained experts – known as DC Health Link Assisters –will be onsite to answer questions and help people shop, compare, and choose coverage that meets their needs and budgets. Coverage options include both private health insurance and Medicaid. Many residents will also be eligible for financial help to reduce their premiums. 

 

“We are thrilled with this partnership,” said Diane C. Lewis, MPA, chair of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority Executive Board. “CVS is a recognized leader in health care, and this partnership demonstrates their commitment to helping District residents obtain affordable, quality health insurance.”

 

“Providing information about new health insurance coverage opportunities is in keeping with our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” said Helena Foulkes, CVS Caremark’s executive vice president and chief health care strategy and marketing officer. “Over the coming months, our pharmacists and stores will be serving a key role in point of activation for customers to learn more.”

 

More than 40,000 informational brochures will be available in English and Spanish in CVS/pharmacy stores located in all eight of the District’s wards. DC Health Link Assisters will also attend CVS/pharmacy’s Project Health free health screening events at six CVS locations in the District this October and November. Visitors will have access to free confidential health screenings performed by medical professionals, including blood pressure tests, body mass index (BMI) evaluations, glucose level checkups, and total cholesterol screenings. In addition, interested participants will receive free prostate cancer information and tips on how to stop smoking. And, DC Health Link Assisters will be available to educate attendees about the new health insurance coverage options available through DC Health Link and will be able to assist them with eligibility and enrollment right there in the store.

 

“CVS is a vital part of our efforts to make sure every DC resident and small business owner has good information about affordable quality health insurance options and knows that DC Health Link has over 300 competitively priced plans from all major insurance companies,” said Mila Kofman, J.D., executive director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority. “Our goal is to reach people where they live, where they work, where they shop, where they play, and where they pray.”

 

The open enrollment period for health insurance plans offered through DC Health Link begins October 1, 2013 and runs through March 31, 2014. For those who enroll and pay their premium before December 15, 2013, insurance coverage will begin on January 1, 2014. Employers have until Dec 12 for January 1 coverage.

 

For more information, visit DCHealthLink.com.