Sometimes the work Cindy Balliet did this past year touched her heart.

Balliethelped awoman with chronic back painget enrolled in the new federal health insurance program.

The woman was then able to get implants in her spine that blocked much of the pain and allowed her to live a more normal life. She could walk at least to the mailbox and back. She could go to church. She could make her bed, things we take for granted, said Balliet.

The woman enjoyed cooking. So she baked Balliet a loaf of bread.

Balliet got other loaves of fresh bread, a universal gift of thanks, from grateful people she shepherded through the computer application process for the Affordable Care Act.

She also got candy and thanks and hugs. Lots of hugs.

Balliet was one of 50 people trained and licensed to help Nebraskans navigate the new health insurance system.She was one of nine navigators paid to work full-time at Community Action Partnership offices across the state.

Balliet came to Nebraska from Michigan when her husband got a job in Seward. Sheplanned to work on obtaining a nursing home administrator license.

Instead, Balliet, who has a background in insurance sales, spent the last year helping people in the Lincoln area get health insurance throughthe newfederal system, which was created in a political hurricane andlaunched with serious computer-related problems.

ACA, also called Obamacare, provides health insurance for people who dont have access to employer-sponsored insurance. Premiums are based on age, gender and smoking status only. There is no penalty for pre-existing health conditions.

The rest is here:

Ex-health care navigator earned lots of hugs