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“Without the Affordable Care Act, I simply could not have retired at 62.”

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Health Care Blog

  • Here's What's Being Done to Make HealthCare.gov Better

    Posted by Megan Slack on October 21, 2013 at 3:14 PM EDT

    President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the Affordable Care Act during a statement in the Rose Garden

    President Barack Obama delivers remarks on the Affordable Care Act during a statement in the Rose Garden of the White House, Oct. 21, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

    On October 1, HealthCare.gov opened for business, offering Americans a new way to compare health insurance plans and enroll in coverage. Nearly 20 million people have visited the site, and Americans all over the country are signing up for affordable, high-quality health insurance.

    But, as President Obama explained today, the web site hasn’t worked as well as it’s supposed to.

    "The problem has been that the website that’s supposed to make it easy to apply for and purchase the insurance is not working the way it should for everybody. And there’s no sugarcoating it. The website has been too slow, people have been getting stuck during the application process," he said. "And there’s no excuse for the problems, and these problems are getting fixed."

    President Obama also reminded Americans that while HealthCare.gov will ultimately be the easiest way to buy insurance through the marketplaces, it isn’t the only way to apply and enroll.

    "Even as we redouble our efforts to get the site working as well as it’s supposed to," he said, "we’re also redoubling our efforts to make sure you can still buy the same quality, affordable insurance plans the old-fashioned way – offline, either over the phone or in person.”

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  • Learn About the Health Insurance Marketplace in Vietnamese

    Posted by Dr. Tung Thanh Nguyen on October 21, 2013 at 3:14 PM EDT

    I’m excited to announce that we will be continuing our Google+ Hangout Series on the Health Insurance Marketplace, with the next session to be held in Vietnamese.  Having come to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam and now providing medical care and conducting research on Asian American health, I know that the Vietnamese community faces challenges in accessing quality health care. One in five Vietnamese Americans lacks health insurance coverage. Vietnamese Americans are also among the highest limited English proficient populations in the nation. Over half, or 53 percent, of all Vietnamese Americans report speaking English less than very well. So, access to information on health care in Vietnamese is critical to increasing health insurance coverage and access to health care among Vietnamese Americans. 

    During the Hangout, there will be a live question and answer period with Vietnamese-speaking representatives from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They will respond to your questions and provide information on how to obtain health care coverage through the new Marketplace.

    The Vietnamese in-language Hangout will take place on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 from 3:00 - 4:00 PM (EST). We hope you will join us by watching live at a local viewing party or online by joining our Google+ Hangout.  You may also submit your questions in advance by emailing whitehouseaapi@ed.gov or tweeting them to @WhiteHouseAAPI. More information about the in-language Hangouts can be found on the WHIAAPI website, and more information about the Affordable Care Act can be found at HealthCare.gov.

    We hope you will join the conversation – in Vietnamese!  Our goal is to bring greater awareness of health care to the AAPI population, so that all people can achieve their full potential for health.

    Dr. Tung Thanh Nguyen is a member of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Dr. Nguyen is also Professor of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. 

    Tìm Hiểu Về Thị Trường Bảo Hiểm Sức Khoẻ bằng Tiếng Việt 

    Bởi Bác Sĩ Nguyễn Thanh Tùng

    Tôi rất phấn khởi khi tuyên bố là chúng tôi sẽ tiếp tục các đợt Google+ Hangout về Thị Trường Bảo Hiểm Sức Khoẻ, với buổi trình bày kế tiếp sẽ được nói bằng Tiếng Việt.  Sau khi đến Hoa Kỳ với tư cách là người Việt tị nạn và  hiện đang cung cấp dịch vụ chăm sóc y tế và nghiên cứu sức khoẻ của người Mỹ gốc Á Châu, tôi biết rằng cộng đồng Việt Nam hiện đang đương đầu với những khó khăn trong việc tiếp cận sự chăm sóc sức khoẻ có phẩm chất . Một trong năm người Mỹ gốc Việt  không có bảo hiểm sức khoẻ. Người Mỹ gốc Việt cũng thuộc thành phần các sắc dân có trình độ tiếng Anh giới hạn trên toàn quốc. Trên phân nửa, hoặc 53%, người Mỹ gốc Việt cho biết là họ nói Tiếng Anh không khá . Vì thế, việc thu thập tin tức về chăm sóc sức khoẻ bằng Tiếng Việt là điều trọng yếu để gia tăng số người Mỹ gốc Việt có bảo hiểm sức khoẻ và được sự chăm sóc sức khoẻ. 

    Trong  chương trình Hangout, sẽ có phần hỏi và đáp trực tiếp với các đại diện nói bang tiếng Việt từ Bộ Y Tế và Dịch Vụ Nhân Sinh Hoa Kỳ. Họ sẽ trả lời thắc mắc của quý vị và cung cấp tin tức về cách để có được bảo hiểm sức khoẻ qua Thị Trường mới.

    Buổi Hangout bằng Tiếng Việt sẽ diễn ra vào Thứ Tư, Ngày 6 Tháng Mười Mot, 2013 từ 3:00 - 4:00 CHIỀU (GIỜ MIỀN ĐÔNG- EST). Chúng tôi hy vọng quý vị sẽ tham gia bằng cách gia nhập Google+ Hangout cùng với chúng tôi để xem phần trình bày trực tiếp được tổ chức tập thể ở địa phương hoặc trên mạng.  Quý vị cũng có thể gởi trước các câu hỏi của mình qua email tại mailto:whitehouseaapi@ed.gov hoặc gởi qua Twitter đến @WhiteHouseAAPI. Để biết thêm tin tức về các Hangout bằng ngôn ngữ bản xứ quý vị có thể vào trang mạng WHIAAPI, và có thêm thông tin về Đạo Luật Chăm Sóc Sức Khỏe Với Lệ Phí Thấp ở HealthCare.gov.

    Chúng tôi hy vọng quý vị sẽ tham gia cuộc đối thoại – bằng Tiếng Việt!  Mục tiêu của chúng tôi là đem lại cho các sắc dân AAPI ý thức cao hơn về việc chăm sóc sức khoẻ , để tất cả mọi người có thể đạt được hết tiềm năng sức khoẻ của họ .

    Bác Sĩ  Nguyễn Thanh Tùng là một thành viên trong Uỷ Ban Cố Vấn của Tổng Thống về người Mỹ gốc Á Châu và Đảo Thái Bình Dương. Bác Sĩ Nguyễn cũng là Giáo Sư Y Khoa tại Trường Đại Học California ở San Francisco. 

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  • Doing Better: Making Improvements to HealthCare.gov

    Posted by lholst on October 21, 2013 at 10:39 AM EDT

    On Sunday, the Department of Health and Human Services provided an update on the state of HealthCare.gov, addressing initial issues with the site and explaining its improvements. The following is crossposted from HHS.gov.

    Read the original post here.

    Over the past two and a half weeks, millions of Americans visited HealthCare.gov to look at their new health care options under the Affordable Care Act. In that time, nearly half a million applications for coverage have been submitted from across the nation. This tremendous interest – with over 19 million unique visits to date to HealthCare.gov– confirms that the American people are looking for quality, affordable health coverage, and want to find it online.

    Unfortunately, the experience on HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many Americans. Some have had trouble creating accounts and logging in to the site, while others have received confusing error messages, or had to wait for slow page loads or forms that failed to respond in a timely fashion. The initial consumer experience of HealthCare.gov has not lived up to the expectations of the American people. We are committed to doing better.

    Aside from the difficulties since launching the site, there are parts of the overall system that have proved up to the task. The “Data Hub,” component, which provides HealthCare.gov with information that aids in determining eligibility for qualified health plans, is working. Individuals have been able to verify their eligibility for credits, enabling them to shop for and enroll in low or even no-cost health plans.

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  • Americans Are Enrolling Through HealthCare.gov

    Posted by Ashleigh Axios on October 2, 2013 at 5:30 PM EDT

    Yesterday, the new Health Insurance Marketplaces opened for business as part of the Affordable Care Act. During the first 24 hours of open enrollment, there was overwhelming interest, as 4.7 million people visited HealthCare.gov. And by Wednesday afternoon, more than 6.1 people had visited the site.

    Related Posts:

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  • What Does the Health Insurance Marketplace Mean for You?

    Posted by Kasie Coccaro on October 1, 2013 at 10:40 AM EDT


    We're Open

    Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. You can see the original post here.

    Today the Health Insurance Marketplace opened for business, creating a new and better way for Americans to shop for insurance. At the Marketplace, you can compare options, see if you qualify for lower costs, and select coverage that will begin as soon as January 1, 2014. You can compare private plans and choose coverage that fit your needs and budget.

    Visit HealthCare.gov to shop for options today.

    Over the next two weeks, we are going to be highlighting the stories of individual Americans who will benefit from the law.

    Like Malik. Malik is an uninsured bartender in Philadelphia. He hurt his leg pretty badly and worked through the pain because he didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford to see a doctor. He is young and healthy, and now he knows he’s not invincible. No one should have to work through an injury, and Malik is looking forward to finding affordable coverage through the Marketplace.

    See Malik’s story here.

    To get started, finding a health plan that fits your budget, visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) to get started. To make the process even easier, every member of our call center staff has been trained to help answer your questions about applying. And if you need extra help, you can click here to find out if there is a real person right in your community to help.

    Today marks an important step in fullfilling the promise of quality, affordable health insurance for millions of hard-working Americans. We are going to feature just a few of them. Help us share their story and share your own.

    Click here to read the stories.

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  • Moms Champions

    Posted by Kathleen Sebelius on September 30, 2013 at 8:10 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: This blog is cross-posted from The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

    Do you remember?  For many of us, mom was the first—and best—health care provider we ever had.  Cleaning off a scraped knee or filling a prescription for chicken soup, mom played a vital role in our early health. Her love and attention showed us that health care was better when it was delivered with compassion. 

    Mom was always there for us and it’s something we never forget. 

    As children get older, a mother’s role changes.  No longer magically wielding thermometers or gently pulling off Band-Aids with the utmost care, a mom becomes a vital source for advice. Kids – young and old – trust mom to tell it like it is.

    As the mom of two grown boys, I know the immeasurable value of a mother’s voice. I know the feeling of wanting to help kids stay safe and healthy.

    That’s why helping moms learn about health care options for their kids is one of my top priorities.

    I want to make sure moms across the country understand the new opportunities for their families as we approach the beginning of open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

    Starting tomorrow, and continuing through March 2014, Americans that lack access to affordable coverage will be able to apply, compare plans, and enroll in the Marketplace, with  coverage beginning as early as January 1, 2014.

    These plans will cover essential services like maternity care, hospitalizations, doctor’s visits, and prescription drugs.  These plans also cap out-of-pocket costs, can’t place an annual limit on coverage, and can’t charge you more because you’re a woman or have a pre-existing condition.

    And for nearly 6 in 10 of the uninsured Americans, coverage will be available for $100 or less per month.

    The good news is that we’re not alone in trying to get the word out. Programs like text4baby, and organizations like MomsRising, and the What to Expect Foundation are committed to joining us as we begin to educate moms about the Marketplace.  We’re calling these organizations “Champions for Coverage.”

    Champions for Coverage are local businesses, organizations, bloggers, community health centers, hospitals, and faith communities. They will use publicly available materials – both digital and in print – to help members of their communities understand their new options through the Marketplace.

    I want to send my sincerest thanks to organizations like these. We always knew we couldn’t do this important work alone.

    For millions of Americans, better health care options are on the way – as long as they know to sign up.

    In Case You Missed It: View a full recap of the HealthCare.gov, Moms Rising, and text4baby #GetCovered Twitter chat .

    To see the list of Champions for Coverage visit: http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champion.html.

    Learn more about the Marketplace and how to get ready to enroll at HealthCare.gov or call the Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

    Kathleen Sebelius is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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