On October 30, Peter Youngbaer, the Executive Director of the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic and also a navigator for Vermont’s new health insurance exchange spoke to the Club about health care needs in the county and the challenges of getting on-line with the new Vermont Health Connect.

He outlined some of the basics about Vermont Health Connect to the Rotary. It will only affect about one in six Vermonters: those who are currently uninsured, self-insured, or getting insurance from a small employer (50 or fewer employees.)

Youngbaer said that the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic has trained staff available as navigators to help both individuals and small businesses determine their options, and to help them sign up on the internet.  Appointments can be made by calling 479-1229.

Because of internet problems, Governor Peter Shumlin recently postponed the deadline for signing up until March 31, 2014. Current insurance policies that expire at the end of December can be extended until then.