Obamacare and Me in NYC: What the Affordable Care Act Means for Uninsured New Yorkers
Taught by Erin O'Donnell
Erin O'Donnell is an activist and educator who spends her days teaching, storytelling, and organizing for social change. She currently works as an educator at the Sadie Nash Leadership Project, and facilitates workshops for activists on organizing strategy, anti-oppression, and self-care & burnout prevention. Born and raised in the Big Apple, Erin spends her free time revisiting her old childhood haunts, volunteering at Bluestockings Activist Cafe & Bookstore, and organizing with the Queer Detainee Empowerment Project.
With the Affordable Care Act taking effect in January 2014, affordable health insurance will be within reach (and, in many cases, will be required) for thousands of previously uninsured New Yorkers. This is great news! But, the new system is still complicated and is not without its flaws. Now that New York’s new online insurance “marketplace” is open (and finally functioning), we’ll take a look at what these changes mean for us, as un- or under-insured New Yorkers.
In this interactive workshop, we’ll talk about the nuts and bolts of the new system and explore your individual options. Key questions covered include:
- How is the Affordable Care Act changing health insurance options for New Yorkers? (hint: in most cases, it’s making it much cheaper!).
- How do you use the new online “marketplace” to figure out your individual options based on your health care needs and income level?
- How do you decide which plan, if any, is best for you? What happens if you don’t enroll? When, if ever, is remaining uninsured the best option?
You’ll leave prepared to navigate the system and take charge of your new health care destiny!
