ELKINS — Randolph, Barbour and Upshur counties are set to participate in the second annual Cover WV Day on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

A day dedicated to raising awareness about how to get health coverage and helping uninsured people find and enroll in health insurance, Cover WV Day will see more than 20 organizations joining to offer free assistance to those who need coverage at over 40 locations across the state. 

For residents in Randolph County, the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA on 400 Davis Ave. in Elkins will be the county location for the event.

In Barbour County, those interested in the event can visit the Belington Clinic on 70 N Sturmer St. in Belington. 

The event will also be held in Upshur County at Community Connections Buckhannon on 34 N. Kanawha St. in Buckhannon, and at Community Care of Rock Cave on 78 Queens Ally Road in Rock Cave.

According to a press release from WV Navigator Program Director Jeremy Smith, who is one of the event organizers, each Cover WV Day location will offer walk-in assistance from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday for “anyone who has questions about getting health insurance coverage.” 

All locations will be staffed by certified assisters such as health insurance navigators, certified application counselors or EAPs that are part of the Enrollment Assistance Program. According to the release, all assisters provide free help with Medicaid, CHIP and Health Insurance Marketplace enrollments.

The Open Enrollment period for the Marketplace ends on Jan. 15, and this will be an opportunity for people to get free help before the deadline.

“This will be the second annual Cover WV Day, and we couldn’t be more excited to get out there and help people all over the state again,” Smith said in the press release. “For people that may be going uninsured, we are urging people to look at the new plans and prices released this year.

“The plans are often more affordable than we have ever seen. This event is happening just in time as the final deadline to enroll for 2025 is coming up fast. If you miss the Jan. 15th enrollment deadline, you may not be able to get coverage again until 2026.”

More than 100,000 people, or about 5.9% of West Virginians, lack health coverage, according to the release. Organizers of Cover WV Day “aim to educate fellow West Virginians about the options available to those needing health coverage.”

Smith said getting help signing up is essential, as many people are overwhelmed by the options or may not realize how to shop for affordable health coverage. 

“With so many experts partnering all over the state, we are hopeful that anyone who has questions or needs help will be able to get what they need by showing up to a Cover WV Day location,” Smith said.

For more information or a complete list of site locations, visit www.coverwvday.org.