Philadelphia is making it easier to sign up for health insurance

Philly, our outgoing and incoming mayors are feeling competitive.

Mayor Michael Nutter and Mayor-Elect Jim Kenney have a plan for enrolling more uninsured residents in the Healthcare Marketplace than any other community in the country before the end of January.

Philadelphia was one of 20 communities named by the White House in its Healthy Communities Challenge. The competitor with the most enrollments wins “gets bragging rights, a healthier community, and a visit from President Obama to celebrate their success in helping ensure every American has health coverage,” according to a White House press release.

Yesterday, Nutter and Kenney shared their initiatives to make it easier for Philadelphians to get signed up, including something called a “BenePhilly Get Covered Tour,” during which the Mayor’s Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity will set up pop-up enrollment booths in various neighborhoods.

The mayors also encourage those who need insurance to visit the Get Covered America website, use the Philly 311 or call the 311 helpline to schedule an enrollment appointment.

The Healthy Communities Challenge was conceived “to engage key communities with large numbers or high percentages of uninsured in states across the country where strong federal, state and community collaboration can have a meaningful impact on reaching the uninsured,” the White House press release reads.

The open enrollment deadline is Jan. 31.