Hays area residents wanting to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act can get some help and guidance from Outreach Specialist Sayre Shuck.

She’s a Certified Navigator based at the Hays First Care Clinic, although you don’t have to be a First Care patient.  Anyone can ask for her help, at no charge.

Shuck  will be in the Hays Public Library Gallery this afternoon from 2-4p.m. to answer questions.  She will also have an informational presentation Thursday, October 3, 2p.m., in the basement conference room at First Care Clinic.

Starting today until March 31, if you don’t have an employer-based health plan or Medicare, you can turn to the health insurance marketplaces:

By January 1, all Americans must have basic health-care coverage.  Thirty-six states are leaving it up to the federal government to handle all or part of their exchanges.  The other 14, including Kansas, and Washington, D.C., are setting up their own.