Oct 2, 2013 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – In an effort to help people understand the complexities of the Affordable Care Act, Cornerstone Care and the Centerville Clinic have trained counselors available to help the uninsured and under-insured obtain health insurance through the health insurances exchanges known as the Marketplace.

Rich Rinehart, chief of operations and development of Cornerstone Care, and Pam Browning, a certified application counselor at Centerville Clinic, made brief presentations Wednesday at the Greene County commissioners’ agenda meeting.

Rinehart said Cornerstone Care is adding two full-time employees who, along with other existing staff, will complete standard training as certified application counselors.

“Certified application counselors are trained to help consumers and small businesses and their employees to look for health coverage options through the Marketplace, including help in completing eligibility and enrollment forms,” he said. “Services are free to consumers and all assistance is confidential.”

He told the commissioners there soon will be information on dates and sites throughout Greene County where counselors will be stationed to provide assistance. Presently, Cornerstone Care has offices in Greensboro, Rogersville, Mt. Morris and Waynesburg. Other sites, he said, may include local libraries, businesses, social service organizations, schools and government offices.

He did say a help line is now available in Greene County by calling Theresa Tanner at 724-880-7137.

“Our role is one of a facilitator,” Tanner said. “We are not there to give recommendations.”

Browning said her role as an application counselor is “outreach and enrollment.”

She said there are three ways people can complete an application – on paper, online and over the phone.

The current enrollment period is Oct. 1 through March 31, 2014. Insurance coverage begins Jan. 1, 2014.