Release issued on Monday, November 9, 2026. Image provided.
TIOGA, BRADFORD, & SULLIVAN COUNTIES, PA – Beginning November 1, Pennsylvania residents can enroll in new healthcare coverage, switch healthcare plans, or re-enroll in their current plan on pennie.com, the Pennsylvania insurance exchange marketplace.
Pennie’s open enrollment runs from November 1, 2026, through January 15, 2027. Participants must enroll by December 15 for insurance coverage to activate on January 1st.
Need help finding a health plan that’s a good fit or assistance navigating Pennie’s online marketplace? The Laurel Health Centers are here to help with free enrollment counseling and support for Pennie.com plans and Medicaid. The team does not currently provide Medicare enrollment assistance. For help with Medicare plans, please contact the social security office, PA MEDI, or an Area Agency on Aging office.
“We assist patients with reviewing and comparing their coverage options on the state marketplace (Pennie) and insurance affordability programs like Medicaid and CHIP. Our goal is to help everyone find a health plan that is a good fit,” explains Carla Westlake, Laurel Health’s certified application counselor. “Anyone is welcome to make an appointment at 570-723-3424. While we’re busiest during the marketplace’s open enrollment period, we can also assist with special enrollments throughout the year. Free appointments are available year-round to discuss insurance questions and coverage.”
Carla Westlake has years of experience helping patients review insurance options and navigate enrollment paperwork. She was awarded the prestigious APEX Award by the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers for her outstanding work with patients and dedication to serving her community.
Already on a plan you like? If you intend to keep the same marketplace health plan, make sure to update and verify your projected 2027 income and household size on pennie.com to confirm your eligibility for financial assistance and to avoid any disruptions in coverage.
Insurance Enrollment Deadlines:
- Open enrollment for pennie.com insurance runs Nov. 1, 2026, to Jan. 15, 2027.
- Dec. 15 is the last day to enroll for coverage that starts Jan. 1, 2027; if you enroll after Dec. 15, your health coverage begins Feb. 1, 2027.
- Jan. 15, 2027, is the last day to enroll in pennie.com plans for 2027 health coverage.
- Open enrollment is the only time to change health plans unless you experience a life event that qualifies for special enrollment. Call 570-723-3424 to learn more.
Laurel Health offers free enrollment and application help throughout the open enrollment period as well as special enrollment assistance for people experiencing qualifying life events. Qualifying life events impact the type of insurance a person may need or their access to insurance, such as marriage, welcoming a baby, relocating to a new area, or losing employer-based health coverage. Pennsylvanians experiencing a qualifying event can enroll in or update their Pennie insurance coverage during a special enrollment window.
The Laurel Health Centers aim to make the insurance enrollment process less stressful and empower patients to make informed decisions with independent enrollment counseling. A certified application counselor can help patients compare plans, review eligibility for financial assistance programs, and enroll in healthcare insurance. Counseling is open to everyone; you do not have to be a Laurel Health patient to use this free service.
Laurel Health provides enrollment assistance specifically for commercial marketplace plans (Pennie.com), Medicaid, and sliding fee programs. For help with changes to 2027 Medicaid renewals and documentation requirements, please contact your local county assistance office or Medicaid caseworker. For help with Medicare plans, please contact your social security office, PA MEDI, or local Area Agency on Aging office.
To review health plans, update income information, or enroll in coverage, visit pennie.com.
To make an appointment to discuss your Pennie health plan options, contact Carla Westlake at 570-723-3424 or westlakec@laurelhc.org.
For more information about Laurel Health’s enrollment assistance services, visit laurelhc.org.
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ABOUT THE LAUREL HEALTH CENTERS
The Laurel Health Centers offer award-winning family medicine, behavioral health services, and specialty care for the whole family throughout Tioga, Bradford, and Sullivan Counties in northcentral PA, including sites in Blossburg, Elkland, Laporte, Lawrenceville, Mansfield, Towanda, Troy, Wellsboro, and Westfield, PA. The Laurel Health Centers are committed to serving all patients regardless of their ability to pay, offering a sliding fee scale to ensure all patients can access the care they need.
Laurel Health’s services include primary care, pediatrics, dental services, women’s health, preventive wellness care, internal medicine, chiropractic care, walk-in care, sports medicine, mental health counseling, nutrition therapy, diabetes education, care coordination, speech-language pathology, chronic disease management, insurance enrollment assistance, and more. For more information, call 1-833-LAURELHC (1-833-528-7354) or visit laurelhc.org.
