New Minority Party Leader

Open Enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplace

Medicare Open Enrollment

Sen. Keaveny's Education and Law Enforcement Priorities

Staying Warm with LIHEAP

Missouri's Online Business Portal

Get help signing up for the Health Insurance Marketplace is by calling 1-800-318-2596.

This year, open enrollment, runs through February 15, 2015.  There are several ways to learn more about the ACA or the federal Health Insurance Marketplace:

• Call the Marketplace Call Center:
  1-800-318-2596, it is open 24/7.
• Visit www.healthcare.gov for live chat assistance.
• Visit CuidadoDeSalud.gov for Spanish.
• Visit www.covermissouri.org .
• TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

Cover Missouri: Helping Missourians Find Affordable Health Insurance

Cover Missouri is a Coalition of community organizations from around Missouri that are dedicated to helping consumers understand their insurance options. Coalition members include Navigators and Certified Application Counselors (CAC), who can assist you to:

• Understand and navigate new health insurance rules and requirements;
• Understand health insurance basics;
• Research and understand ways to help pay for health insurance;
• Understand the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace, rules and restrictions; and;
• Help understand where and how to purchase insurance.

There are no fees to use the marketplace or to receive help from a Navigator or CAC. No one should solicit health coverage to you. Here is a checklist of information you will need when you sign up:

• Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants)
• Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage (for example, from pay stubs or W-2 forms—Wage and Tax Statements)
• Policy numbers for any current health insurance plans covering members of your household.

Open enrollment ends December 7.

For 2015 Medicare Part D Plans, open enrollment ends December 7, 2014.  Medicare Part D plans chosen during that time frame will begin January 1, 2015.

• Visit www.medicaregov.us to enroll for Medicare Part D.
• Visit www.missouriclaim.org or call 1-800-390-3330 to get help from the Missouri Department of Insurance to choose a plan that best meets your needs.  CLAIM provides free, unbiased help to Missourians (and their caregivers) who are on Medicare, the elderly and people with disabilities.
• Visit www.morx.mo.gov for prescription drug assistance and coordination of Medicare’s (Part D) Prescription Drug Program; enrollment is free and year-round.
• Visit Extra Help to learn about the extra help to which you are entitled. 

During the open enrollment period, consumers can change their Part D drug coverage or Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare is not part of the federal health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.

By utilizing the assistance of a CLAIM counselor, Missourians can get better health care and drug coverage or save money by signing up for a different plan. Counselors might also help citizens who are living on a limited income by notifying them whether or not they qualify for federal or state assistance to pay for prescription drugs.

If you turn 65 or become eligible for Medicare outside of the annual open enrollment period, you have a seven month window in which to enroll in the current year's plan and avoid any possible penalties:

• Three months before the month of your eligibility (your birth month);
• The month of your eligibility ( the month you turn 65); and
• Three months after the month you become eligible for Medicare.

Your coverage will begin either on the first day of your birth month or, when you join during or after your birth month, on the first day of the month after the month in which you join.

Senate Bill 6 is necessary to ensure that districts without an accreditation status, such as Normandy, will be eligible to expand early childhood education.  When the preschool expansion bill was passed in 2014, the status currently assigned to Normandy did not exist; SB 6 will allow districts such as this to increase opportunities for early learning where it is most essential.

Senate Bill 7 would end state aid payments to school districts for educating “phantom students.”  This legislation would amend the complicated state funding formula by applying a uniform per-pupil calculation to all districts, regardless of size.   Even though the foundation formula is currently underfunded by over $542 million, the state will pay more than $16 million this year alone to educate students no longer enrolled in school.  

I will continue to work towards updating criminal procedures to ensure wrongful convictions do not occur.  For the third year, I will file legislation to have police departments adopt policies based on best practices for eyewitness identification.  False eyewitnesses testimony is the leading cause of wrongful convictions. 

While the federal government is focused on body cameras, I will again file the custodial interrogations act which requires that interrogations are recorded and requires law enforcement to document instances when recording is not available.

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program are payments to energy providers for households who have their energy service terminated or received a threat of disconnection, or who are running short of purchased fuel (propane). The amount is based on the amount to restore or continue services which may be up to $800 for the winter program. Eligible households facing a cooling crisis during summer months may be eligible for up to $300.

This winter my office wants to get the word out that help is available for those who may struggle to pay their home heating bills during the winter months. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Social Services, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides financial assistance to Missouri households that meet certain qualifications.

To qualify for the programs, you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an alien admitted to this country for permanent residence;
• Be responsible for paying home heating costs;
• Have less than $3,000 in resources; and
• Have an annual household income (before taxes) of $32,198 for a family of four.

Missouri winters can be long and bitterly cold. LIHEAP can help those who struggle to keep up with their winter heating costs.

More than 146,000 Missouri households received financial assistance through LIHEAP last year. The program will help pay heating costs through the month of March. Payments can range anywhere from $45 to $450 and are based on a number of factors. Payments are usually made directly to the utility company.

Those who qualify for LIHEAP may also qualify for additional help through the Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP). This program makes payments to energy providers for households that have their heating service terminated, receive a threat of termination or are running low on propane. The payment amount is based on the amount to restore or continue heating services.

Anyone interested in applying can download a LIHEAP application with instructions and information at the nearest LIHEAP agency location. Applications are now being accepted.

For LIHEAP assistance in our District, please reach out to:

St. Louis County
Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC)
2709 Woodson Road
Overland, MO 63114-4817
Phone number: (314) 446-4420

City of St. Louis, Wellston
Urban League (ULSTL)
3701 Grandel Square
St. Louis, MO 63108-3627
Phone number: (314) 615-3640