117 individuals in Wisconsin have applied for health insurance on Arise Health Plan through the new health insurance marketplace.
Green Bay-based Arise Health Plan, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corp. in Madison, is offering Affordable Care Act marketplace plans in both the individual and small employer group markets.
Arise is one of four insurers offering coverage through the new marketplace in Milwaukee County.
“For the whole Arise network, we’re getting weekly updates,” said Tom Enwright, corporate communications at WPS Health Insurance. “As of Nov. 11, we’ve received 117 enrollment applications for the exchange.”
Arise is expecting activity to pick up, said Enwright, “especially if the website (Healthcare.gov) gets fixed.”
Enwright said Arise did not set any specific goals relating to the number of those signing up, so he was not able to say how this number compares to the insurer’s expectations for the marketplace.
It is not yet known which age group or region of the state these applications have been from.
Arise is offering marketplace insurance plans in 26 Wisconsin counties.
Last week, WPS and Arise Health Plan announced it is hosting 16 free seminars across the state to inform residents about health care reform and help them determine whether or not they qualify for an insurance subsidy from the federal government.
“Our goal is for the seminars to provide consumers with the information they need most to make the right decisions about their health insurance coverage,” said Jim Baird, WPS vice president of individual sales. “Many people don’t fully understand the important issues that can impact them directly, such as whether they will be eligible for financial help to pay premiums, what the penalties are for going without insurance, and what their range of options is. We can help them with answers that are specific to their situation.”
The 90-minute seminars – titled “Health Care Reform and the Impact on Consumers” – are taking place in seven communities. The first of these was held last night at Westwood Conference Center, 1800 Westwood Center Blvd., in Wausau. The second is being held tonight in Racine at the Marriott, 7111 W. Washington Ave., from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The schedule for the rest of the seminars, which all run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., is as follows:
- Nov. 14 – Hotel Mead, 451 E. Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids.
- Nov. 18 – Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2040 Airport Drive, Green Bay.
- Nov. 19 – AmericInn, 3300 E. Main St., Merrill.
- Nov. 20 – Country Inn & Suites, 7011 122nd Ave., Kenosha.
- Nov. 20 – Westwood Conference Center, 1800 Westwood Center Blvd., Wausau.
- Nov. 21 – Holiday Inn Express, 2407 Neva Road, Hwy. 45, Antigo.
- Dec. 4 – Westwood Conference Center, 1800 Westwood Center Blvd., Wausau.
- Dec. 5 – Hotel Mead, 451 E. Grand Ave., Wisconsin Rapids.
- Dec. 6 – Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 2040 Airport Drive, Green Bay.
- Dec. 9 – AmericInn, 3300 E. Main St, Merrill.
- Dec. 10 – Marriott, 7111 W. Washington Ave., Racine.
- Dec. 11 – Holiday Inn Express, 2407 Neva Road, Hwy. 45, Antigo.
- Dec. 12 – Country Inn & Suites, 7011 122nd Ave., Kenosha.
- Dec. 12 – Aspirus Wausau Hospital, 333 Pine Ridge Road, Wausau.
Seating is limited at each location, and advance registration is necessary. To register, call 1-800-236-1448.
