I just spent the better part of an hour talking my neighbor into at least exploring the online exchange so that she can get her family insured.
Her husband's company used to offer good health insurance. Then they restructured so that most of their employees would fare no better than independent contractors. Her family is still paying off medical bills from an accident she had long ago. She is putting off a much-needed doctor visit about this same injury because she doesn't have the money. Instead, she can't do the work she was trained for (medical tech) because she can't stay on her feet very long. She has days when the pain and swelling are such that she can't walk at all. And that's it, that's her future unless she can get access to affordable health care.
Her family is religious, and people in their church have been telling them all kinds of things about ACA. About death panels. About how it's contributing to the deficit. About how it's going against God, and better to pay the penalty.
I tried very hard to be respectful and low-key in my corrections, because honestly, she seemed afraid of Obamacare. We ended our conversation with me saying I hoped she would check out the exchange and get her family covered. I see her often; our kids go to school together and we work on the PTO together. I'll follow up.
I think success is going to be achieved by reaching across an ideological and/or spiritual divide to help our neighbors. Have you helped anyone explore the ACA exchange?
Some links below the fold.
11 facts about the Affordable Care Act, by Ezra Klein -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Obamacare 101, Christian Science Monitor -- http://www.csmonitor.com/...
Full Text of the law -- https://www.healthcare.gov/...