The Southern Adirondack Independent Living Center (SAIL) recently received a state Department of Health contract for the new Health Benefit Exchange Navigator Program.
Jocelyn Blanchard of Hudson Falls, director of outreach services at SAIL, heads up the program. It will allow SAIL to offer services to more people in the counties they serve.
According to SAIL, it will promote independence and wellness in the community in an accessible, friendly format. The agents for the program are referred to as navigators. The navigators are independent agents attempting to pair clients with the most appropriate health insurance plan. There is no incentive to enroll people in any particular plan. Officials said staff will be available nights and weekends.
Enrollment began Oct. 1. Those enrolled through December will be the first to have active insurance when the various insurance plans go into effect, SAIL officials said.
More than 7,000 services were provided last year and the demand for assistance is growing, according to SAIL.
The organization has offices in Queensbury and Ballston Spa. Its mission is to promote the independence, equality and dignity of people with disabilities in all aspects of personal and community life.
Services provided through SAIL enable people with disabilities of any age to gain control over their lives through information and referral, assistive technology assessment and loan, peer counseling, individual and systems advocacy, independent living skills, computer and job readiness training, errand support and voter registration, officials said.
SAIL can do educational programs on a variety of insurance and disability issues, tailored specifically a company’s needs.
For more information about SAIL’s new program, contact Blanchard at 792-3537 or by e-mail jblanchard@sail-center.org.