Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010.   But it wasn’t until October of 2013 that the health care exchange went live.  Widespread problems accompanied the rollout – including website errors, impossibly long delays, and misquoted prices.  Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigned her post six months later. 

This week marks the fortieth consecutive Monday lunch-hour protest of Women Organizing for Wilmington, or WOW*. Since last summer, this grassroots group has been championing women’s rights and public education causes on a weekly basis, whether outside Senator Goolsby’s downtown office, or before the New Hanover County courthouse. But, WOW* has now left downtown altogether--to protest outside the Hobby Lobby at Hanover Center.

Health insurance can be tricky to navigate, what with the difficulty many experience enrolling in care, and North Carolina’s decision not to expand Medicaid in 2014.  And that’s why the Southeast Area Health Education Center, or SEAHEC, and the New Hanover County Health Department are holding free information sessions on the Affordable Care Act—also known as “Obamacare.” WHQR’s Katie O’Reilly reports that until the March 31 deadline to enroll passes, these educators will be hosting these sessions around the region.

North Carolina lawmakers have approved a measure that blocks the state from expanding Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul.  While supporters of the bill say it’s prudent to avoid an as-yet undefined obligation, opponents – which include hospitals in the state -- now worry that paying for care for the indigent gets more complicated.

States across the country are making decisions on three options under the Affordable Care Act – popularly known as Obamacare.

One aspect of the federal Affordable Health Care Act aims to expand state’s Medicaid coverage. Last week, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and some members of the General Assembly advanced legislation to decline Medicaid expansion. But a recent study commissioned by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services shows expanding Medicaid would have positive impacts on the state’s economy.  WHQR’s Sara Wood recently talked to Scott Nystrom, an associate economist with Regional Economic Health Models, who prepared the study.