SUPERIOR – With the application deadline just around the corner, county residents were invited to the Mineral County Library in Superior to learn more about new healthcare options.

Kristi Scott, outreach and enrollment specialist at Mineral Regional Health Center, issued the invitation to help educate the community about the new healthcare plans available. Scott was at the library on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon in order to answer any questions about coverage under the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, and make appointments for further consultations.

“My job is to provide information and access to the marketplace,” said Scott.

A number of people spoke to Scott while she was at the library and a few made appointments to come by her office for more help.

According to Scott, everyone who has come in to speak with her, either at Friday’s event or in her office, has had a good experience. She reported people have found good coverage plans and payment options as the result of her consultations.

“I’m getting a good response from the community,” said Scott. “Everyone, so far, has been really pleased with the results they got from coming in.”

However, some people want nothing to do with the new healthcare system. Scott felt many people were afraid of the new healthcare plans, but do not fully understand them or have misconceptions about the plans. She would encourage people to learn more and get the straight facts about the new system.

“By coming in and talking to me, it doesn’t commit them to anything, it just gives them information that they wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Scott.

However, Scott said some have already been pulled in by myths and fears about the Affordable Care Act’s policies. This has led some to take action, which Scott believes will have a negative impact on those around them.

Scott said many employers have made arrangements to drop insurance plans on December 31, as the result of the Affordable Care Act. She said these actions would leave employees without health coverage on January 1, 2014. Many people have begun to sign up for new plans to ensure coverage at the start of next year.

“It’s important for those people,” said Scott. “But also for those people that have never had health insurance and want it at the first of the year.”

Scott also wanted to remind the community of MRHC’s scale policy at the clinic. For people who qualify, healthcare needs can be provided at a discounted cost to not break the bank, as a way to help with the limited funds some people have for health coverage.

The deadline for coverage at the start of next year is December 21st, with the first premium in by December 23rd. People who have enrolled in a plan will have coverage at the beginning of 2014. The full enrollment deadline is not until March 31, 2014, however, people who wait to sign up will not be covered until after the first quarter.

Scott said she would hold more events like this after the first of the year. Due to the December 23rd deadline, she is focused on enrollment help with the appointments she has right now. However, she is still available for consultations and to help spread word of her services to help understand the Affordable Care Act.

To contact Scott or schedule an appointment, call her at 822-7134 or email kscott@mchospital.net.

“I’m really trying to be as flexible as I can,” said Scott. “I will absolutely go to that length to accommodate [peoples’] needs.”