RST: Answering healthcare questions on first day of insurance exchanges

What to look for on Radio Smart Talk Tuesday, October 1, 2013:

The day has arrived when the uninsured and other consumers can begin shopping for health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.

For three years, October 1, 2013 has been targeted as one of the most significant days in the life of the healthcare law. The enrollment period last for six months with the earliest coverages starting on January 1.

It’s estimated there are more than 40 million uninsured people nationwide. In Pennsylvania there are between 900,000 and 1.3 million.

Under what’s referred to as the individual mandate, everyone will have to have health insurance or face a fine.

Since it was first proposed right after President Obama took office, the Affordable Care Act has been controversial, complicated, and confusing. Three years after the president signed it into law, there are still many questions and misinformation about it.

Tuesday’s Radio Smart Talk provides an opportunity to ask those questions.

Appearing on the program are Antoinette Kraus, Statewide Project Manager for the Pennsylvania Health Access Network and Barbara Terry, Vice President for Mission Effectiveness at Pinnacle Health.

For more informationation on PA’s Insurance Marketplace visit witf’s Transforming Health.

Uninsured or underinsured? Shop for healthcare insurance at healthcare.gov or at PAHealthOptions.com.

Have your Marketplace questions answered by a customer service representative, available 24/7:

• 1-800-318-2596 or (TTY: 1-855-889-4325)

To reach a PinnacleHealth Certified Application Counselor call 717-231-8900.

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