WS Chronicle

BY CASH MICHAELS 

FOR THE CHRONICLE

The U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services (HHS), which will remain under the Obama Administration until President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office Jan. 20, wants to make one thing very clear to African-Americans and others  – the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still the law of the land, and will remain so now through the end of 2017. Insurers have already contracted with the  federal government to do so.

In fact, North Carolinians still needing comprehensive health care coverage at a reduced rate starting Jan. 1, are strongly urged to go to www.HealthCare.gov today, Thursday, Dec. 15, to sign up. Also, there are help coun-selors available who speak multiple languages. Visit www.localhelp.healthcare.gov to find a local location in the area with local help, or speak with someone over the phone 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week in English or Spanish at 1-800-318-2596.

Otherwise, you have until Jan. 31, 2017, the deadline for the current open enrollment period, to sign up, with your coverage commencing in February or March 2017.

For assistance, call Enroll America at 855-733-3711, or go to www.getcoveredamerica.org/connector.

To alleviate any confusion about the fate of the ACA, HHS Sec. Sylvia Maxwell Burwell spoke exclusively with The Chronicle and other black newspapers across the nation last week, urging that our readers not be fearful about press reports the Trump Administration and Congress’ plan to dismantle what is commonly known as “Obamacare”, and it may mean for those already enrolled, or those planning to enroll for low-cost comprehensive health insurance coverage.

“For consumers who want or need coverage for 2017, my message is simple – visit www.HealthCare.gov  and check out your options, and don’t let the current political debate keep you from getting covered,” Burwell told reporters. “Insurers have said that when people sign up for 2017 coverage, [the insurance companies] consider that a contract.”

“We’ve also heard members of Congress, issuers and the president-elect say that they don’t want to disrupt coverage next year. But on the other hand, looking beyond 2017, some of the proposals out there do threaten to take away coverage from tens of millions of people,” Burwell continued.

“In particular there’s been discussion about acting immediately to repeal the law’s coverage expansion, but leaving the question of what would replace them for another day.”

“Let’s be clear – this so-called ‘repeal and delay’ is effectively ‘repeal and collapse,’” Burwell declared. “Health insurance companies start making decisions about 2018 just a few months into the new year. Uncertainty can lead them to dramatically raise prices, or drop out of [the ACA marketplace] entirely.  That means some Americans will likely not be able to find coverage at all, and others won’t be able to afford it.”

Press reports from conservative media like The Weekly Standard say GOP House and Senate leaders, working with Vice President–elect Mike Pence are plan