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Getting ready to help Michiganders make health insurance decisions

Steve Carmody/Michigan Radio

The effort to train people to help Michiganders navigate the new federal health insurance law is gearing up.

Starting October 1st, Michiganders will be able to use an online marketplace to choose a health care plan under the Affordable Care Act. How many plans there will be and what the plans will offer is still unclear.

But several groups are preparing to help with the process.

Don Hazaert is the executive director of Michigan Consumers for Healthcare. The group received a grant to help implement Obamacare in Michigan.

He says they’ve already received applications from 60 local groups interested in helping consumers figure out their health insurance needs.   The training consists of 20 hours of instruction.

“It’s essentially a puzzle that we’re piecing together….trying to make sure we have adequate levels of coverage throughout the state,” says Hazaert.

Michiganders will have until the end of next March to pick a health plan or face a fine from the IRS. 

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Public since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting.
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