Community Relations Council to sponsor Obamacare session

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Elizabeth Roberts will moderate, Christine Ferguson will speak
on the Affordable Care Act
Elizabeth Roberts will moderate, Christine Ferguson will speakon the Affordable Care Act

Christine Ferguson /HEALTHSOURCE RIPROVIDENCE – The Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will host a seminar on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (the ACA), which has been nicknamed “Obamacare.”

Open to the community, the program will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., in the Alliance Social Hall, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. HealthSource RI, the entity through which individuals and small businesses will access health insurance in 2014, is an event co-sponsor. HealthSource RI will offer a menu of health insurance plans for individuals and small businesses to choose from; according to media accounts, Rhode Island is a model for other states to follow. 

Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts, a longtime advocate of health care reform, will facilitate and Christine Ferguson, director of HealthSource RI, will be the featured speaker. Previously, Ferguson, an attorney, served as the director of Rhode Island’s Department of Human Services and helped shape the critically acclaimed Rite Care program in the state.

The seminar will explain how individuals and small businesses can acquire health insurance coverage in Rhode Island and will include time for questions and answers. Frequently asked questions – “Will I have to pay more for coverage if I have a pre-existing illness?” and “I own a small business with a dozen or so employees; how is this new program going to affect me and my employees? Will this make me non-competitive?”– will be addressed, as well.

The ACA enrollment period will kick off Oct. 1; this year, the enrollment period will apply to individuals and small businesses. Implementation for larger businesses has been postponed to address concerns.

The program will include two breakout sessions – one for small business owners and one for individuals.

Additional information will be available in future issues of The Jewish Voice and emails from the Alliance.

Marty Cooper is the CRC director at the Alliance.

For more information: Healthsourceri.com.