from the League of Women Voters
What people can expect with the big roll-out Oct. 1 of the major provisions of the Affordable Care Act will be the topic of a free public forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Pasadena, Oct. 3, 10:30 a.m. at the Women’s City Club, 160 N. Oakland Ave., Pasadena.
“This complicated, unclear and contentious new system will affect almost everyone, sometimes to their pleasant surprise,” says Irma Stranz, chair of the event. “Some parents already are enjoying the relief of having their health insurance continue to protect their ‘pre-launch’ adult children under 26, thanks to the Affordable Care Act.”
In the simplest terms, the task between October and March is to enroll 2.5 million currently uninsured residents through the state’s health exchange — Covered California — and expanded MediCal. The League program will cover what people need to know in navigating the system and making insurance decisions and how the new provisions will affect people who already have health insurance. It also will provide information about the effect on local health-care access.
Gerald Kominski, professor at the UCLA School of Public Health and director of the Center for Health Policy Research, will describe the key elements of the ACA and issues surrounding the implementation.
Steven Abramson of the Pasadena Public Health Department and Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (CHAP) will discuss collaborative efforts to enroll individuals, families and small businesses in Covered California or MediCal insurance plans as soon as possible. CHAP provides low-cost medical, dental and behavioral health services and was one of 25 public clinics in the state to receive an ACA grant of $1.5 million to expand access to health-care services.
The program will be open to questions and discussion about how to assist in an outreach and education effort of the League. It also will be filmed for future viewing by KPAS, Pasadena’s public television station.
Information and reservations for lunch are available by calling the League office, 626-798-0965. Lunch is $25, including tax and tip; the program is free. Free parking is available on Madison Avenue behind the Women’s City Club.
