(Houston, TX) - On Wednesday, December 12, 2018, Congressman Al Green made the following statement regarding the severity of enrolling in a health plan before open enrollment ends on Saturday, December 15, 2018:

“As the deadline for open enrollment rapidly approaches, I urge all of my constituents and everyone in this country to be sure to secure healthcare coverage for 2019. According to Community Health Choice, more than 185,000 constituents of the Ninth Congressional District of Texas, which I am proud to serve, do not have health insurance. This includes residents of both Fort Bend County and Harris County. In 2018, 13% of Fort Bend County’s uninsured population were eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and 17% were eligible for premium tax credits. In 2018, 13% of Harris County’s uninsured population were eligible for Medicaid or CHIP and 15% were eligible for premium tax credits.

“If you do not have health insurance, please sign up for coverage at www.HealthCare.gov. If you feel you cannot afford coverage, visit www.HealthCare.gov to learn more about Medicaid and tax credit eligibility. For free, in-person assistance, call 1-800-318-2596 or visit Localhelp.HealthCare.gov. For assistance in other languages, visit www.HealthCare.gov/Language-Resource/.

"Healthcare coverage is a life or death decision. Please, get covered. Make the December 15, 2018 deadline your lifeline to health care."