Author Archive

The Guardian
Guest column by Lauren Vagelakos

On Saturday, open enrollment will begin for the second year of the Health Insurance Marketplace, commonly known as Obamacare.

For African-American communities, getting health coverage is especially important. In the United States, more than 20 percent of African Americans do not have health insurance. African Americans experience higher rates of certain health issues, such as high blood pressure, prostate cancer and glaucoma.

With affordable health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, residents are able to get coverage that provides them with the […]

Get covered at The Hippodrome!

November 12, 2014

The Hippodrome in Downtown Gainesville will sponsor open enrollment in Marketplace health plans on November 16th from 1 to 6 p.m.

The Hippodrome, WellFlorida Council, Suwannee River AHEC, GetCoveredAmerica, and The America Epilepsy Foundation of Florida, are cosponsoring the healthcare event.

Open enrollment is being held at the theater to emphasize the importance of Gainesville artists getting insured. The event hopes to get every local artist covered.

Most Americans receive health insurance as a benefit from their employer but artists are three times more likely to be self-employed. […]

ACORN Clinic to celebrate 40 years providing rural healthcare

November 12, 2014

Come down to United Church of Gainesville’s Reimer Fellowship Hall on Friday, Nov. 21 to help celebrate the ACORN Clinic’s 40th Anniversary.

The Alachua County Organization for Rural Needs, Inc. (ACORN) Clinic was founded in 1974 to serve the health needs of those living in rural areas in and around Alachua County. ACORN clinic has since expanded to provide low-cost medical, dental and social services to low-income residents of North Central Florida.

The Anniversary Celebration will both commemorate ACORN clinics 40 years of service and honor the […]

ACA enrollment starts Saturday; premium increases expected

November 10, 2014

Affordable Care Act, Healthcare.gov, Medicaid, Navigator, Navigators, WellFlorida

Ocala Star Banner
By Fred Hiers

This is open enrollment season for private sector insurance plans, Medicare Advantage plans, and the plans getting the most attention the past two years: those in the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace of health insurance offerings.

Enrollment for the latter group starts Saturday. Since the program’s debut last year, the number of uninsured residents has fallen across Florida, including a significant drop in Marion and neighboring counties.

The percent of uninsured residents in Marion County fell from 24 percent in 2013 […]

Health stats rank Putnam below average

November 7, 2014

Palatka Daily News
By Brandon D. Oliver

A state medical organization earlier this week released health and socioeconomic statistics comparing nearly 20 counties to state averages.

Putnam County was among Alachua, Bradford, Lake and 12 other counties that were in the study released by the WellFlorida Council.

The study reported that in Putnam, the average teen birth rate is more than two times higher than the state average, and the average number of emergency room visits in the county is higher than the state average.

The study, which can […]

WellFlorida oversees Navigators in NCF

November 6, 2014

WellFlorida Council is pleased to announce that it will continue to administer the Health Insurance Marketplace Navigators of North Central Florida.

Navigators are professionals certified to provide free and unbiased information on the options available through the Health Insurance Marketplace created by the Patient Protections and Affordable Care Act. These services are available to individual consumers, as well as small businesses and their employees, in the program’s 15-county service area.

The next Open Enrollment period begins Nov. 15. This period, during which anyone may sign up for […]

Second year of ACA enrollment begins Nov. 15

November 5, 2014

The Guardian
By Christopher Curry

As the second year of Affordable Care Act enrollment nears, reaching the remaining uninsured might pose a significant problem.

Open enrollment begins Nov. 15 and runs through Feb. 15.

In Gainesville, federally funded navigators who assist people with understanding health care coverage options under the Affordable Care Act will begin working with the public Thursday at Library Partnership and regularly hold sessions at county libraries over the next few months.

Lauren Vagelakos, the project coordinator for the navigator program that the […]

As second year of Affordable Care Act enrollment nears, reaching uninsured poses a challenge

October 30, 2014

Gainesville Sun
By Christopher Curry

As the second year of Affordable Care Act enrollment nears, reaching the remaining uninsured might pose a significant problem.

Open enrollment begins Nov. 15 and runs through Feb. 15.

In Gainesville, federally funded navigators who assist people with understanding health care coverage options under the Affordable Care Act will begin working with the public Thursday at the Cone Park public library and regularly hold sessions at county libraries over the next few months.

Lauren Vagelakos, the project coordinator for the navigator program that the […]

WellFlorida’s High Impact Prevention project at Pride events

October 13, 2014