What It’s Been Like, Signing People Up for Obamacare

What It’s Been Like, Signing People Up for Obamacare

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Monday night — just before midnight — is the sign-up deadline for Obamacare health insurance, if you want it to start Jan. 1.

It’s been the job of health-care navigators to help people with that process.

One navigator, Karari Olvera, said it has been the busiest.

Olvera said people needed reassurance on two questions.

First: Could they afford coverage? There’s been lots of talk of premiums going up. Olvera said in many cases, people qualified for subsidies in the form of a tax credit.

“Once they see that they’re eligible for the premium tax credit, which compensates for the rise in premium, they’re kind of surprised, and many of them enroll,” Olvera said.

They also wanted to know: Would they actually get health insurance?

“People were like, ‘What’s the purpose of signing up, it’s going to go away?‘” Olvera said.

Olvera’s response: The law is there this year. Getting insured while it’s in place is a good idea.