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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois with Jeremiah Development to Host Rockford Community Care Fair

CHICAGO – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is working with Jeremiah Development to host a Community Care Fair on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Second First Church, 318 N. Church Street, Rockford. The fair is free and open to everyone and is aimed at providing access to health services as well as to support those who have questions about the benefits of health insurance or need help signing up for coverage [1]. This event will bring together multiple organizations to provide health resources at the event.

"We are excited to be partnering with BCBSIL for this community health and wellness fair,” said Sue Kanthak, executive director of Jeremiah Development. “In addition to providing holiday dinners to 200 households [2], BCBSIL is helping us provide medical screenings, insurance navigation, and much needed social service linkage to many Rockford residents!"

Health services offered will include blood pressure checks, flu shots [3]. Also available, will be presentations on understanding Medicare, as well as personal assistance with enrollment for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois individual and family plans.

“It’s estimated that nearly 900,000 people in Illinois are still uninsured, yet 63 percent of them may qualify for Medicaid or a federal subsidy to reduce their health care costs,” said Clarita Santos, executive director of Community Health Initiatives for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “This event in Rockford will not only provide the community with access to free health services, it will also remove barriers to make it easy for residents to learn how access to affordable health care can provide security and peace of mind. We want to help people understand that health insurance can be within their reach — regardless of whether or not they choose us as their health plan.”

The Medicare annual election period runs through December 7, 2019 for January 1, 2020 coverage. The health insurance marketplace for individual and family plans available under the Affordable Care Act closes December 15, 2019 for January 1, 2020 coverage.

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[1] No coverage sign-up will be available from BCBSIL for any government programs (e.g. Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, FEP).

[2] One (1) turkey or a 5lb bag of chicken breasts will be given to each household on a first-come, first-served basis for those households that have one (1) completed stamped “passport” obtained from stopping by each health and resource fair booth. Limit one (1) item per household.  No purchase necessary.  In addition, no health services (e.g. blood pressure checks, flu shots or other immunizations) are required to be accessed by any individual at the fair in order to receive the turkey or chicken breasts.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  300 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60601.

[3] Services will be offered by Aunt Martha’s, Crusader Community Health, Jewel Osco. 

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About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is committed to expanding access to quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in Illinois. BCBSIL is dedicated to innovation and exploring, nurturing and activating future possibilities to make the health care system work better for our members and our communities. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact

Colleen Miller
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
312-653-6904
Colleen_Miller@bcbsil.com



A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association