Obamacare By Another Name: Affordable Care

The Affordable Care Act,  also known as Obamacare, is arguably the biggest cultural change we are likely to encounter in this period of the new millennium.  Not to succumb to hyperbole, of course, but this is big.  Although, generally speaking, hyperbole has been the order of the day: the end of civilization as we know it, a socialist plot, the coming of death panels, the end of religious freedom and economy wrecking costs are some of the more restrained criticisms.

None of the criticisms seem justified.  A version of this plan, instituted under a conservative governor, has been humming along in Massachusetts going on ten years.  Introductory rates for coverage in California are way below alarmist predictions, one indication that the name Affordable Care Act is not misplaced.  As a humanist, as someone dedicated to a vision of the common good, one has to wonder at the vitriolic opposition to a program that holds such promise.  The Affordable Care Act is clearly not the end of the world, it is a program to bring more health care to more people.   But, it is change, and change is hard.

Some of that change has already taken place, notably a provision that dependents (mainly children) will be permitted to remain on their parents' insurance plan until their 26th birthday.  Other changes, many others,  still looming ahead. This October 1st is one of the milestones in the rollout of the program, on this date individuals may enroll in subsidized health insurance plans offered through state-based health insurance exchanges, a keystone provision of the Affordable Care Act.

If you have not heard much about the October 1 date, join the crowd.  There has not been much coverage, considering what an important milestone it is.

This coming Sunday, August 11, we will offer an opportunity to learn more.  Our Sunday Program speaker will be EHSLI member Liz Seegert, a Senior Fellow at the Center for Health, Media and Policy at Hunter College, City University of New York, she has been thinking about, writing, reporting and blogging on the topics of aging, e-health, social media, and health policy for more than two decades.

I do not usually use this space to talk about specific Sunday programs, but this topic is so timely and the opportunity to learn more about how the Affordable Care Act will effect our lives, I wanted to speak about this opportunity.  Sunday morning at 11:00, 38 Old Country Road.