Enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act is beginning Oct. 1, this Tuesday. Even though radical Republicans have tried to derail it many times at the state and federal level, it’s finally here.
The good news is that finally people will have options to get affordable care for themselves and their families. Polls show that a majority of the country supports Obamacare. Almost every insurance company now has information about how to sign up because they are all competing for new customers.
The federal government just came out with numbers than show that the national average monthly premium for a single person’s mid-level plan would be $328 before tax credits. That’s 16 percent lower than the Congressional Budget Office had originally estimated.
What the healthcare exchanges will do is give people one place to compare plans and sign up for subsidies according to their income. The credits are available to individuals and families who earn between one and four times the federal poverty level, about $24,000 to $94,000 for a family of four.
To learn more, check out www.healthcare.gov. There are also a lot of upcoming community events with experts ready to answer your questions in detail.
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, State Representative Joe Gibbons will host a healthcare forum to educate people about their options. It’s being held at Koinonia Worship Center and Village in Pembroke Park at 7 pm.
Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 6 to 8pm the League of Women Voters is hosting a forum on healthcare reform at the UM Life Science & Technology Park (1951 NW 7th Avenue, Miami)
Thursday, Oct. 3, State Sen. Oscar Braynon is hosting a forum from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, 3000 NW 199th Street in Miami Gardens. Spanish and Creole translators will be available.