OPINION: Obamacare is a step forward, but it could be better
When the Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare, was passed into law, its detractors railed against it as though it were the devil incarnate. Many of its supporters, on the other hand, hailed it as a revolutionary change that would transform American health care for the better. The truth is somewhere in between.
The program provides health care to many people who otherwise would have trouble getting it, and it takes into account people’s income and adjusts monthly fees accordingly. However, Obamacare health plans don’t always provide the same benefits as others, and getting your insurance renewed every year can be a time-consuming, frustrating process.
When I first applied for insurance under the ACA, I tried to do it online, but I soon realized I could never negotiate on my own the arcane requirements and requests for information. I decided to visit one of several authorized health care “navigators” in my area. I ended up at the Community Service Society, speaking to a very well-informed, nice young woman.