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WATAUGA Affordable Care Act & Health Insurance Marketplace: Overviews

Information and resources for library staff about the Affordable Care Act and health insurance enrollment.

What Is the Affordable Care Act?

This short, animated movie explains the problems with the current health care system, the changes that are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014. Written and produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Narrated by Cokie Roberts, a news commentator for ABC News and NPR and a member of Kaiser's Board of Trustees. Creative production and animation by Free Range Studios.  9 minutes.

How Will You Get Health Coverage?

Join the YouToons as they walk through the basic changes in the way Americans will get health coverage and what it will cost starting in 2014, when major parts of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," go into effect.  This cartoon was written and produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Charlie Gibson, former anchor of ABC's World News with Charlie Gibson and a member of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, narrated the video. Creative production and animation was provided by Free Range Studios.  7 minutes.

La Reforma Del Cuidado De La Salud Llega al Público

(Spanish Version)  This short, animated movie explains the problems with the current health care system, the changes that are happening now, and the big changes coming in 2014. Written and produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Narrated by Cokie Roberts, a news commentator for ABC News and NPR and a member of Kaiser's Board of Trustees. Creative production and animation by Free Range Studios.  10 minutes.

Health Insurance Marketplace

HealthCare.gov

North Carolina elected not to create a state specific insurance marketplace.  Residents in North Carolina will use this federal site beginning October 1, 2013 to choose and enroll in a health insurance plan.  It is important to note that 36 states in total are sending their residents to this federal marketplace, so there may be delays depending on the amount of traffic to the site.  Also see the Spanish version.

Help Center:  HealthCare.gov

Includes a 24 hour toll free number (1-800-318-2596), online chat, and a short interview to determine programs of interest.

Find Local Help:  HealthCare.gov

Get personal help applying for health coverage by entering a City and State or Zip Code.

How the Health Insurance Marketplace Will Work

The video provides an overview of how the Health Insurance Marketplace works, what it means for consumers and individuals, who is eligible to enroll, and how programs for people with limited incomes work.  Produced by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services.  46 minutes.

More Overviews

Recommended Sites about Health Care Reform

From NC Health Info, a service of the Health Sciences Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Health Care Reform Law Fact Sheets

Facts about the Affordable Care Act with educational fact sheets from AARP's department of Education & Outreach. Many of these resources are also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Tagalog.

Health Reform: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Frequently asked questions, issue briefs, and more from the Kaiser Foundation.