Lyons, NE - October 1 marked an historic day for health care access in the United States, the day the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act opened for business.
Many have questions or concerns about health insurance and the Affordable Care Act, especially those who may purchase insurance on the new marketplaces (those who buy insurance for themselves, their family, small businesses, and those without health insurance), health care providers and social service providers.
A presentation in Oakland on Wednesday, November 13 is being held to help provide information about the new law and how it will affect people on the local level. The program will be held at the Oakland Mercy Hospital at 6:00 pm and is sponsored by the Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department and Oakland Mercy Hospital. Food will be provided and space is limited, so pre-registration is required. To register please call Oakland Mercy Hospital at 402-685-7520.
Jon Bailey, director of research and analysis at the Center for Rural Affairs, will discuss the basics of the Affordable Care Act and in particular the new health insurance marketplaces. He’ll discuss how the marketplaces work, how they will help people, and what assistance is available to help people navigate the new health insurance system.
“There are a lot of questions out there, mostly about how people will be covered based on their personal circumstances,” Bailey said. “I expect there will be a lot of questions for people who are buying insurance on the new marketplace, and we’ll be talking about some of the basics with what’s in the law and what the new health insurance exchanges mean. They opened up on Oct. 1, so we’ll talk about what people can expect on how they work and what they need to have when they go online.”
Bailey said that public information about the new health care act has been lacking, which has led to a lot of confusion.
“I think there are so many sources of information and different spins on the information, that it seems to create more questions and confusion,” he said. “A lot of it depends on where people get their information and what they take in, and we’re trying to give a fact-based presentation, with no politics and no spin on the law at all, and talk about what’s in it and how it will affect people.”
What: A presentation on the Affordable Care Act in rural America
When and Where:
Wednesday, November 13
6:00 p.m.
Oakland Mercy Hospital
601 E 2nd St, Oakland, NE 68045
The meeting is open to the public.