State-wide “Cover West Virginia Day” to provide free information on healthcare coverage

PRINCETON, W. Va. (WVVA) -On Tuesday, health centers across West Virginia will be participating in “Cover West Virginia Day,” a day dedicated to providing free information on getting health insurance.

This state-wide event is organized by West Virginia Navigator, a free, grant-funded program focused on helping people find and sign up for health coverage. The Bluestone Health Center in Princeton is just one of 48 West Virginia organizations letting people come in on Tuesday without an appointment to talk with someone about healthcare options. Jeremy Smith, program director for West Virginia Navigator and one of the organizers who first came up with the idea, says it’s a way to reach the more than one hundred thousand people in West Virginia currently without any health coverage.

He says the support for Cover West Virginia Day has been even better than expected which he attributes to people recognizing how valuable this information will be for those living in the state.

“I think everybody knows how important having health insurance is. I mean, if you don’t have health insurance and something happens to you, you know, just one car wreck or one surgery without insurance could bankrupt you and your family. And then, we also know that if you have insurance, you’re just happier and you’re healthier. It allows you to get to your doctor when you have small health issues before they become large health issues…” says Smith.

If you would like to participate in Cover West Virginia Day to receive free information on signing up for health coverage, you can simply walk into one of the participating locations 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Tuesday, January 9th. If you can’t make it, Smith says you can also call West Virginia Navigator for help. You can find a full list of participating locations on their website. The deadline for signing up for health coverage this year is January 16th.

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