If you buy your own health insurance, add this important date to your year-end to-do list: November 15.

That's the date open enrollment is available for individual healthcare plans offered through the Healthcare.gov site, your respective health insurance marketplace (https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/eligibility/) or independent agents in your community.

If you're working for a company that provides your health insurance, chances are your open enrollment period has already begun. The SHOP insurance marketplace, open to small businesses and nonprofits with 50 or fewer full-time employees, also begins taking online applications November 15.

Here are six things you should know to get started:

1. Timing is tight. Last year's health insurance enrollment process lasted six months. This year, it's only three – November 15 to February 15. You may be able to enroll outside of those dates if you're facing a major life change like a divorce, birth of a child or marriage; otherwise, that's your window.

2. Sticker shock is a possibility. Obamacare didn't guarantee cheap healthcare coverage; it guaranteed available healthcare coverage. Keep in mind that if you bought health coverage last year, your insurer will automatically re-enroll you on December 15 for new coverage effective January 1. However, that's no guarantee that your monthly premium will stay the same. Some experts are predicting only modest increases (http://www.cnbc.com/id/102055144#.), but depending on where you live, your premiums might go up or down. And if your 2013 carrier grandfathered your 2014 coverage, those changes may go well beyond price.

3. Your doctors and hospitals might change. Hospitals and physician practices scrutinize the state of the health insurance market very closely. Their income depends on it. In 2013, some medical practices made news by dropping insurance plans altogether and accepting only cash or credit; others changed the insurance plans they would honor. Something to keep in mind: the best way to confirm that you'll still have access to your favorite doctor and hospital choice is to pick up the phone. Your doctor's website may list the particular insurance plans his or her practice may accept, but don't expect the list to be current. Call your practitioner or their business office to confirm they're sticking with your plan or any you've chosen to use instead. You don't want to be surprised with enormous out-of-network costs later.

4. Planning future health needs is important. If in the next year you're planning to expand your family, undergo elective surgery or other factors that could affect how you'll use the healthcare system, query the plans about specialists, prescriptions and other specific services before you sign up. It could save you thousands in potential out-of-pocket costs.

5. Coverage isn't immediate. Depending on when you enroll during the open enrollment period, your actual coverage may not start until two to six weeks later. Check effective dates of coverage for every plan you're evaluating to make sure the timing addresses your particular needs.

6. You can get help. Personal referrals from friends and fellow professionals to particular plans and agents are always a good way to start your enrollment search. There may also be nonprofit assistance within your community or state to help you evaluate individual plans. On the national level, nonprofit Enroll America runs a nationwide site (http://www.enrollamerica.org/resources/in-person-assistance/) with specific tools and resources for help in your search.

Start now to build a good toolbox full of online and personal resources to help you with your 2015 health insurance search. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 6 must-know facts about Obamacare open enrollment

FORT WALTON BEACH — Runners participating in this week's Miles of Memories 5K will support Covenant Alzheimer's Services.

The race is 8 a.m. Nov. 8 at Bluewater Fitness & Wellness Center.

Event proceeds stay in Okaloosa and Walton counties and fund support groups, education and the Project Lifesaver initiative, which promotes small devices worn by patients prone to wander.   

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: 5K, Alzheimer's benefit scheduled this weekend

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County high schools, middle schools and elementary schools are fighting influenza with help from three organizations.

The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County, Okaloosa County School District and Healthy Schools LLC, a health care access company that provides flu vaccines for students from VPK to 12th grade, are coordinating the “Teach Flu a Lesson" initiative.

Healthy Schools nurses will administer FluMist nasal spray immunizations — no shots — to students with completed parental consent forms in participating Okaloosa County public schools Nov. 13 and 17. Student participation is voluntary.

The organization will bill students’ insurance companies, with no deductibles and no out-of-pocket costs. Students on Medicaid or those uninsured will receive a vaccine at no cost.

Parents should be on the lookout for the consent form to come home with their students beginning this week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone aged 6 months and older annually receive a flu vaccine.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Flu-fighting nasal spray offered to Okaloosa students

CRESTVIEW — A yard sale benefiting Crestview's Relay For Life is scheduled for 7-11 a.m. Saturday.

The sale is in the CCB Bank parking lot, 1290 N. Ferdon Blvd., Crestview. Set-up is at 6:30 a.m. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Weekend yard sale to benefit Relay For Life

CRESTVIEW — A team of doctors can perform surgery that restores Julio Chi's ability to fight infection, eat and swallow food.

The 4-year-old toddler just needs the means of getting to them.

Julio and his mom live in Belize, where they met Crestview pediatrician Dr. Joseph Peter and his Operation Medical Care partners. Peter's annual missions provide free medical services to the Central American nation's impoverished residents.

“His mother walked a long way to come and see us,” Peter said. “This boy had no opportunity to see a doctor” in Orange Walk, his home community.

Julio has branchial cleft fistula, which results in a lump developing in one or both sides of a child’s neck. In cases like Julio’s, an opening can form on the side of the neck.

“The chances of this defect getting repeated infection is common, which might hinder his normal growth and development,” Peter said.

FREE SURGERY

A fistulectomy, the surgery Julio requires, is unavailable in the region, said Crestview pharmacist Dr. Michele Richard, a member of Peter's mission.

“His mother is a single parent who works hard to support the two of them and provide for his medical needs and care, but as you can imagine, this kind of treatment is far outside her reach,” Richard said.

Peter discussed the boy’s case with Dr. Joseph Siefker, of Emerald Coast Ear, Nose and Throat, who in turn consulted with Dr. Rich Barnett.

“Both these great men decided to perform the corrective surgery free of cost,” Peter said. “These two surgeons need to be commended. We still have great doctors like them in our community.”

Peter has agreed to provide free follow-up care after Julio’s surgery, Richard said.

A local host family will house the Chis and their translator for what could be up to two months' recuperation, she said. The Orange Walk Rotary Club is coordinating the family’s travel documents.

But one thing's missing: money.

Operation Medical Care needs donations to pay for the family’s airfare and other medical expenses, Richard said. Total costs are estimated to be $7,000, Peter said. Donations are tax-deductible.

WANT TO HELP?

Donations to bring Julio Chi, his mother and the family’s translator to Okaloosa County for corrective surgery may be made to Operation Medical Care, 332 Medcrest Drive, Crestview, FL 32536-6440. Donations to the 501(c)(3) organization are tax deductible.

Call Sharlene Cox, 682-6824, for more information.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview doctors to perform boy’s corrective surgery at no cost — if he can get here

CRESTVIEW — Race for Lace, a cystic fibrosis fundraiser, is scheduled for Nov. 15.

The event — which includes a 5K for adults, kindergartners through 12th-graders, military and individuals with strollers, along with a 1 mile kids' dash — begins 9 a.m. at 369 N. Main St., Crestview.

Race-day registration is at 7 a.m.; the disc jockey warms up at 8 a.m., and registration ends at 8:30 a.m.

Breakfast is served at 9:20 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. kids' 1-mile dash, and awards at 10:30 a.m.

Click here to sign up now>>

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Cystic fibrosis fundraiser, 5K run scheduled

Editor's Note: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Keep reading the Crestview News Bulletin throughout the month for news and feature stories about this issue.

CRESTVIEW — Angela Quertermous, owner of Angel’s Speakeasy in Crestview, continues to inspire her employees and others after overcoming stage-four breast cancer.

Before becoming Quertermous’s assistant at the restaurant, Sedrie Ashley met Angela while taking her children to the school bus stop. 

 “She is just an open and honest person. When I first met her, I did not know she had cancer,” Ashley said. “Honestly, without her telling me, I would not have known…because she is ready to embrace life.”

Quertermous said the 2009 diagnosis came on a bittersweet day.

“I found out in the morning that I got this really great job, and two hours later I found out that I had Stage Four breast cancer,” she said. “It’s amazing how life just completely stopped at that moment.”

Quertermous feared she would not be able to see her daughter, Mikaela Hughes, now 10 years old, grow up.

With the diagnosis and the treatments, Quertermous was unable to work. To help with finances, a close friend offered Quertermous a rental home in Crestview to stay at while undergoing treatments.

“I basically moved up here to die,” she said. “With stage Four (breast cancer) not too many come back.”

According the National Cancer Institute’s database, only 22 percent of patients live five years after being diagnosed with Stage Four breast cancer –in which the cancer has progressed to other parts of the body.

After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments including a partial mastectomy, Quertermous remained active in her daughter’s school activities.

 However Angela was still convinced that she would not survive, until she had a spiritual experience.

“I started pacing through my kitchen and I finally just sunk down on the floor and starting sobbing…and I said, ‘Please let me raise my daughter.’ I was talking to God,” she said. “(Then) this extreme peace just came over me and I just felt like I was going to live.”

After being cancer-free for five years, Quertermous said beating breast cancer gave her second chance.

“(I) want to leave this world knowing that I made a difference to somebody or something,” she said.

Through her recently opened restaurant, Querteremous plans to remain active in community cancer awareness, including the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life events.

She also wants to support other charitable causes on a monthly basis as well through her restaurant.   

 “This woman has a huge heart,” said Darryl Wiley, a waiter at the Speakeasy. Wiley said Quertermous continues to be a source of inspiration.

“When I look at my own personal challenges, if she can beat (cancer) then I can beat the everyday challenges that we all may face,” Wiley said.    

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Restaurant owner shares experience in dealing with breast cancer

CRESTVIEW — Residents combined health information with a good time Saturday morning at the annual Crestview Community Health Fair.

Children took rides on Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Posse horses on the green in front of the Community Center and hopped around inside an inflatable bounce house.

From booths staffed by local health providers, attendees received information on health-related topics ranging from personal wellness to assisted living and hospice care.

“It was a good steady pace this year,” Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Committee chairwoman Mary Beth Blanchard said. “We did quite a few blood pressure checks at our table.”

Blanchard’s committee organizes the annual event.

A highlight was North Okaloosa Medical Center’s introduction of its new robotic surgery system. On a demonstration version of the high-tech unit, residents tried to manipulated colored objects using the stereoscopic viewfinder.

“It was really awesome,” resident Denisse Cruz said after trying the machine.

Attendees paused to watch performances during the morning, including a debut by the Ten Talents Youth Theatre, which performed a scene from its upcoming production of “Aladdin.”

“They have a good operation going here this morning,” the Rev. Harry Tipton said as he paused to help himself to a give-away at M*A*S*H Medical Supplies’ booth.

“And I got fruit snacks,” Brayden Mallory, 5, added, after raiding the bowl at Crescent Park Village’s booth.

The annual health fair was sponsored by North Okaloosa Medical Center, Twin Cities Hospital, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Shoal Creek Rehabilitation, Gentiva Health Services, West Florida AHEC, SilverCrest Health and Rehab Center, Financial and Insurance Services and Crestview Urgent Care.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Community Health Fair combines important info with fun (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Editor's Note: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Keep reading the Crestview News Bulletin throughout the month for news and feature stories about this issue.

CRESTVIEW — A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, but there are many ways to get through it, said breast cancer survivor Lizzy Swanson.

“You just got to deal with it and have a great attitude about it,” she said.

Lizzy, a loss prevention specialist for area Tom Thumb convenience stores, had two breast cancer scares: one in 1997; the other in 2011. 

Her husband, Paul, said she handled each diagnosis “like a trooper.”

“Her mental state never quavered,” he said. 

After the 2011 diagnosis, she decided to have a double mastectomy. The decision to remove both breasts followed positive results of a BRCA gene test, which determines whether breast or ovarian cancer is hereditary.

Lizzy said the procedure had no effect on her spirit or her sense of femininity.

“Breasts really don’t make the woman,” she said.

When facing such a diagnosis, she said it helps to get informed immediately.

“Get knowledgeable; the internet is so great,” she said. “Definitely read up on it and realize your life is not over.”

For support, Lizzy suggests talking to other men and women dealing with the same situation.

“When you talk with other cancer survivors, it makes you healthy, because (you realize) you’re not alone” she said. 

One way to do that is to regularly participate in local American Cancer Society awareness events, like Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

Having her employer's support also has helped. At last year’s Relay For Life of Crestview, Tom Thumb donated $35,000 toward the ACS.

Paul remained supportive during his wife’s two bouts with breast cancer, and now Lizzy is supporting Paul while he battles stage five chronic kidney disease.

“We back each other up,” Paul said. “I love her to death.”

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: HOW TO BATTLE BREAST CANCER: 'Have a great attitude,' survivor says