NH groups hold health care information sessions on first day of rollout

Source: The Telegraph, Nashua, N.迷你倉H.Oct. 02--NASHUA -- Laid off in the economic downturn caused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Merrimack resident Jack Rothman found himself lying awake at night with worries that went beyond finding a good job and returning to gainful employment."I hadn't had (health) insurance in two years," Rothman, 66, said Tuesday night at the Nashua Public Library. "I said at the time that I was one fall down the stairs away from being homeless."Rothman was among roughly two dozen area residents who gathered at the library for an Affordable Care Act Community Health Forum, one of several held statewide on the first day of enrollment for the ACA.Billed as "Marketplace Open Houses," the events were led by representatives of health care consumer and advocacy groups to explain the ACA and guide potential enrollees through the process.Until now, millions of Americans have gone without health insurance because they couldn't afford the premiums or had no idea how to navigate an often complicated system, health care advocates said."Since March 23, 2010, we knew this day was coming," said Karen Kelly, a community organizer with the economic, social and political advocacy group New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action. "Since then, we've seen a lot of fear and confusion, as politics has driven much of the conversation."Starting Tuesday, previously uninsured residents and small business owners can "shop" for health insurance through the federal "marketplace," or "exchanges," at .healthcare.gov.Not unexpectedly, the site in some states, including New Hampshire, was slowed by a case of the first-day-rush, said Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress, one of the organizations that sponsored the seminars."It's clear from the numbers that a large number of people went to the site," she said. "It's obvious ... that there is significant demand for the health insurance Marketplace."Nationally, Hawkins said, an estimated 1 million people logged on to .healthcare.gov in the first three hours. Kentucky had processed more than 1,000 applications by 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, she added, while 2 million New York State residents logged on in two hours.Hawkins said people attending Tuesday's statewide seminars were generally "eager to explore the Marketplace" and "dig into the specifics of plan alternatives."Advocates, she said, are reminding people that the sign-up process "is a marathon, not a sprint文件倉"Some families and small businesses will be looking at real health coverage opportunities for the first time, and they should not feel rushed," Hawkins said. The enrollment deadline, she added, is Dec. 15.ACA proponents nationally celebrated Tuesday's enactment of the measure, which is often called President Barack Obama's signature cause.Speakers hailed the act for making health care affordable for all Americans, and for "adding new transparency on price and quality to the health insurance market."Although praising the ACA as being "about shared responsibility" and a major step for uninsured, and under-insured, Americans, Kelly acknowledged its complexity."I'm sure 2013 and 2014 will be a learning curve for everyone," she said.Tuesday's attendees at times struggled to absorb the deluge of information, prompting presenters to provide printed how-to sheets and assurance that many answers will come as enrollees navigate the process."There's so much to learn about this," Kate Molloy, member of the group Organize for Action, told the group. "It's not perfect, nor is it the answer for everyone's specific situation, but it will help so many people."Rothman, meanwhile, said his 2001 layoff "really opened my eyes.""It just wasn't on my radar. I grew up, my parents had (insurance). I went into the service, I was covered. I had (insurance) at the various companies I'd worked for."Like many Americans, Rothman added, insurance "was always on the back burner. I had it, so I was OK if anything happened."Offered COBRA, temporary coverage employers are required to provide laid-off employees if they request it, Rothman said the numbers staggered him. "It was 500 bucks for me and 500 bucks for my wife. That's too big a burden for us. I couldn't believe how exorbitant (insurance) costs are."Because of his military service, Rothman eventually secured coverage through the Veterans Administration. Not long after he enrolled, a fall from a ladder underscored the importance of having coverage."Four days in the hospital, the bill was $25,000," he said. "Insurance covered most of it. If I got hurt when I was uninsured, I might be (living) on the streets now."___Dean Shalhoup can be reached at 594-6443 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow Shalhoup on Twitter (@Telegraph_DeanS).Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Telegraph (Nashua, N.H.) Visit The Telegraph (Nashua, N.H.) at .nashuatelegraph.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉