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Locals Sign Up As Deadline Looms For Affordable Care Act

The deadline is approaching for American citizens to sign up for the Affordable Care Act, as medical consumers have less than two weeks to sign up for the healt...

The deadline is approaching for American citizens to sign up for the Affordable Care Act, as medical consumers have less than two weeks to sign up for the health plan.

Medical centers in Northwest Arkansas are seeing a rush of people wanting coverage under the new federal health care law. People only have until March 31 to sign up.

Rogers residents can walk through the front doors at Physicians Plaza at Mercy Medical Center. An information booth is set up in front to assist consumers.

“I could tell you story after story of people winning with the Affordable Care Act,” said certified agent Larry Fennell. “Just yesterday, a man who has no health insurance and some serious health issues was able to sign up. He got a plan, and Mercy set him up with a doctor. So it's very important to individuals.”

Heidi Kelding of Rogers has lived without health insurance for 15 years.

“I have over $100,000 of actual medical bills, so it has been very scary,” Kelding told 5NEWS.

Kelding said she will take advantage of the new law and plans to use the help being offered at Mercy.

“Even for people like my age that are over 50, we are not as tech savvy, so it's a concern," she said. "But the helpers here at Mercy know about the internet and can walk us through."

With the clock ticking to sign up, Fennell said it's only getting busier.

“We have agents at the hospital and myself here at Physicians Clinic, and you can sit down and visit with a qualified and certified agent," she said. "We will walk you all the way through the process and explain in detail the plans. Plus, it’s free of charge.”

Fennell also said the health care law's website HealthCare.gov is working now, and it generally takes just less than an hour to get signed up.

Hours of operation for help at Mercy in Rogers are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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