Local agencies assisting Chesco residents with health care reform rollout

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With the rollout of the Affordable Care Acts open enrollment beginning today, local health care representatives are working to help Chester County residents navigate the new federal insurance marketplace amid fears that the new health care reform law itself presents problems.

Beginning Oct. 1, anyone without access to affordable health care can begin to apply to buy insurance through the federal marketplace. The marketplace will remain opened until March 31, 2014, and after that citizens can enroll only if affected by a major life event such as a job loss, birth, marriage or divorce.

Those on Medicare do not need to replace their coverage with insurance provided on the marketplace, according to the federal government.

Also, those who receive insurance through their employer may want to shop the marketplace to see their options, experts say, but likely they will receive better options through their plan at work.

Rather, the open enrollment will mostly affect those who are uninsured or under-insured, and local agencies indicate they want to help applicants navigate the new system.

According to Paula Sunshine, vice president for consumer sales and marketing for Independence Blue Cross, the insurer has been spending a lot of time preparing for the marketplace to open.

Weve been at this for a year and a half to prepare people, said Sunshine. Our primary goal is to make sure that people in the marketplace are educated.

According to Sunshine, Independence Blue Cross has named three things consumers should know for the start of open enrollment. The first, she said, is the timeline of the Affordable Care Act, which allows people to shop on the marketplace for six months, from Oct. 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014. Those wanting insurance coverage starting Jan. 1, 2014, must submit an application by Dec. 15.

The second priority, Sunshine said, is for consumers to understand what is going to be available under the plans in the marketplace. She said every carrier has the same basic layout and fit into four metallic tiers: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Premiums will be highest under the platinum plan, but will have the lowest out-of-pocket expenses. According to Sunshine, all of the plans will cover the same basic essential health benefits determined by the government including hospitalization, mental health care and maternity care services.

No matter what type of plan you pick, the benefits are all the same, said Sunshine. The difference is going to be premium costs and how much you actually pay when you go to access health care. Continued...

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Local agencies assisting Chesco residents with health care reform rollout

Obama: Americans 'definitely shouldn't give up' on troubled health care law

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WASHINGTON -- Defending the shaky rollout of his health care law, U.S. President Barack Obama said frustrated Americans "definitely shouldn't give up" on the problem-plagued program now at the heart of his dispute with Republicans over reopening the federal government.

Obama said public interest far exceeded the government's expectations, causing technology glitches that thwarted millions of Americans when trying to use government-run health care websites.

"Folks are working around the clock and have been systematically reducing the wait times," he said.

The federal gateway website was taken down for repairs over the weekend, again hindering people from signing up for insurance.

Obama, in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, also disclosed that U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran continues to be a year or more away from having the capability to make a nuclear weapon. That assessment is at odds with Israel, which contends Tehran is on a faster course toward a bomb.

He expressed optimism about the blossoming diplomacy between his administration and Iran's new president, but said the U.S. would not accept a "bad deal" on the Islamic republic's nuclear program.

The president spoke to the AP on Friday, four days into a partial shutdown of the federal government that has forced 800,000 people off the job, closed national parks and curbed many government services.

Obama reiterated his opposition to negotiating with House Republicans to end the shutdown or raise the nation's debt ceiling.

"There are enough votes in the House of Representatives to make sure that the government reopens today," he said. "And I'm pretty willing to bet that there are enough votes in the House of Representatives right now to make sure that the United States doesn't end up being a deadbeat."

On other points, Obama:

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Obama: Americans 'definitely shouldn't give up' on troubled health care law

Health care website gets down time for repairs

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It's not the sign that the Obama administration wants people to see on its health overhaul website: down for repairs.

Using overnight hours this weekend to debug the system, the Health and Human Service Department hoped to fix the technological problems that overwhelmed the launch of new health insurance markets. Glitches have frustrated millions of consumers unable to complete their applications.

Enrollment functions of the healthcare.gov site will be unavailable during off-peak hours this weekend, HHS said Friday. The department did not release a schedule for hours of operation, but a spokeswoman said the site would be taken down at 1 a.m. EDT each night for a few hours. The website will remain open for general information.

The enrollment function was back online at little before 8 a.m. EDT Saturday, but was working slowly because of heavy traffic.

"Please stay on this page," said a notice. "We're working to make the experience better, and we don't want you to lose your place in line. We'll send you to the login page as soon as we can."

There was no indication of how long the wait would be.

Credit card companies, banks and other online service providers regularly take down websites for repairs. That may also become a feature of the new insurance program.

An effort by congressional Republicans to defund or delay the health care law led to an impasse with Democrats over passing a budget bill, and that sparked a partial government shutdown Tuesday. Republicans quickly pointed to the website problems as another reason that the law they call "Obamacare" should be pulled back.

"Americans have seen once again that Obamacare is not ready for prime time," Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, the No. 2 House Republican, said in a statement Friday. "A dysfunctional website is the least of that law's problems."

The administration put the best face on the situation, noting the unexpectedly strong interest from millions of consumers.

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Health care website gets down time for repairs

Obama: Don't 'give up' on health care law

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Charles Dharapak / AP

President Barack Obama speaks during an interview at the White House with The Associated Press on Friday.

By Julie Pace, Associated Press

Defending the shaky rollout of his health care law, President Barack Obama said frustrated Americans "definitely shouldn't give up" on the problem-plagued program now at the heart of his dispute with Republicans over reopening the federal government.

Obama said public interest far exceeded the government's expectations, causing technology glitches that thwarted millions of Americans when trying to use government-run health care websites.

"Folks are working around the clock and have been systematically reducing the wait times," he said.

The federal gateway website was taken down for repairs over the weekend, again hindering people from signing up for insurance.

Obama, in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, also disclosed that U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran continues to be a year or more away from having the capability to make a nuclear weapon. That assessment is at odds with Israel, which contends Tehran is on a faster course toward a bomb.

He expressed optimism about the blossoming diplomacy between his administration and Iran's new president, but said the U.S. would not accept a "bad deal" on the Islamic republic's nuclear program.

The president spoke to the AP on Friday, four days into a partial shutdown of the federal government that has forced 800,000 people off the job, closed national parks and curbed many government services.

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Obama: Don't 'give up' on health care law

Obama tells Americans not to 'give up' on problem-plagued health care program

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Charles Dharapak / AP

President Barack Obama speaks during an interview at the White House with The Associated Press on Friday.

By Julie Pace, Associated Press

Defending the shaky rollout of his health care law, President Barack Obama said frustrated Americans "definitely shouldn't give up" on the problem-plagued program now at the heart of his dispute with Republicans over reopening the federal government.

Obama said public interest far exceeded the government's expectations, causing technology glitches that thwarted millions of Americans when trying to use government-run health care websites.

"Folks are working around the clock and have been systematically reducing the wait times," he said.

The federal gateway website was taken down for repairs over the weekend, again hindering people from signing up for insurance.

Obama, in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, also disclosed that U.S. intelligence agencies believe Iran continues to be a year or more away from having the capability to make a nuclear weapon. That assessment is at odds with Israel, which contends Tehran is on a faster course toward a bomb.

He expressed optimism about the blossoming diplomacy between his administration and Iran's new president, but said the U.S. would not accept a "bad deal" on the Islamic republic's nuclear program.

The president spoke to the AP on Friday, four days into a partial shutdown of the federal government that has forced 800,000 people off the job, closed national parks and curbed many government services.

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Obama tells Americans not to 'give up' on problem-plagued health care program

iPhone Underwater Test: Short Underwater Video (unedited) by Freedom Divers Phuket – Video

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iPhone Underwater Test: Short Underwater Video (unedited) by Freedom Divers Phuket
http://freedom-divers.com Underwater Test using iPhone 4 in Underwater Housing with Wide Angle Lens and Red Filter, filmed at Shark Point Marine Sanctuary, P...

By: Freedom Divers Phuket

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iPhone Underwater Test: Short Underwater Video (unedited) by Freedom Divers Phuket - Video