Enrollment for the new healthcare exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) begins in October, but few people, especially here in Tennessee, have any idea what that may mean.
“The success of the ACA, and preservation of as many hospitals as possible depends on enrollment,” said Dr. Mary Headrick, healthcare advocate and former Democratic candidate for the 3rd District. “We have 400,000 people statewide, childless adults whom the governor has excluded [from a proposed Medicaid expansion], but poor folks can seek subsidies to make healthcare and insurance affordable.”
To help educate people about their options, an Affordable Care Act public meeting will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Chattanooga Downtown Library, 1001 Broad St., on Saturday, September 7. Co-sponsors as of this date are Erlanger Health System and the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign (THCC).
Said Dr. Headrick, “We'll need volunteers willing to take the five-hour online CAC (Certified Application Counselor) class and test to help people enroll, and we'll need an ad campaign to let people know they are eligible.” She emphasized this will be vital to counter what she described as “negative press that will scare folks away.”
For more information about the Tennessee Healthcare Campaign, visit THCC2.org