STAFF WRITER

The United States federal government may have shut down, but that did not stop the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as Obamacare, from going into effect on Oct. 1.

The Act has a wide range of regulations built in, including calorie counts on menus for chain restaurants, but the most contentious part of the initiative is the mandated health care coverage for Americans through private subsidized insurance or government-provided Medicaid.

President Barack Obama strongly pushed the law as an effort to provide health insurance for Americans who are struggling financially, but the Supreme Court’s June 2012 ruling has altered the law so that individual states can decide whether or not they want to expand Medicaid to many poor U.S. citizens.

The result of the Court’s decision means only 26 states are likely to take up the Medicaid expansion, according to The Washington Post.

The government shutdown has not affected the Affordable Care Act, as the legislation is funded by money that has not stopped flowing, even after the stalemate in Washington. The Act went into effect last Tuesday, Oct. 1, the beginning of the federal government’s fiscal year and the first day of the government shutdown, and while some cheered the ribbon cutting, others were vocal in their opposition.

Congressman José Serrano, who represents the Bronx in the House of Representatives, backed the legislation and released a statement voicing his support.

“Starting today, the health care reform law allows New Yorkers to access affordable, quality health insurance through the new online marketplace,” Serrano said. “While Republicans have shut down the government in order to try to ‘stop Obamacare,’ people across the country, including in the Bronx, are learning today about the new options available to them through the law. They will find that the new online marketplace provides a very simple way to get health insurance regardless of health conditions, income level, or any other factor.”

The goal may have been to allow New Yorkers to sign up for health care in a simple process, but some Americans discovered problems when trying to apply.

There were reports from across the country of technical glitches that some health care seekers experienced throughout the day. In order to sign up for the program, people had to go online to healthcare.gov, but some were turned away with messages that the site was down or undergoing maintenance.

The National Center for Public Policy Research criticized the federal government because of the glitches.

Dr. David Hogberg, senior fellow for health care policy at the organization, said the website’s errors are a large concern.

“Among those eligible for the exchange, those ages 18-34 are probably the most web savvy,” Hogberg said. “Thus, they are the most likely to be accustomed to the convenience of websites like Amazon.com.

“Their patience for the exchanges will quickly run thin should they log on to the exchange websites and find it difficult to learn the price of their insurance, to find out how much in subsidies they qualify for, if any, and to enroll. Such frustration will make it less likely they will sign up,” Hogberg said.

President Obama himself criticized the technical issues, but applauded the Affordable Care Act and told Americans to be patient.

In the Bronx, a report from New York City Comptroller John Liv shows that a little less than 10 percent of borough residents are eligible for benefits from the Affordable Care Act.

The numbers show that roughly 100,000 people in the Bronx community can sign up, putting the borough third in New York City behind Brooklyn and Queens.

Still, Congressman Serrano said the Affordable Care Act will be a boost for those living in the Bronx and he said he wants residents to sign up.

“I know that once Bronx residents interact with the new marketplaces — whether online, on the phone, or with the help of one of the ‘navigators’ — they will find that their choices are really quite good, and quite reasonable,” Serrano said. “The first step towards this, however, is up to them. And so I urge Bronxites to get online or call the toll free number and begin the process.”

Categories: News

Tags: KRIS VENEZIA