While off to a rocky launch due to website and database challenges, over 2.1 million people have signed up to receive health insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplaces (a.k.a Exchanges) as part of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a Obamacare).  On New Year’s Day, many of those plans went into effect, providing insurance to many people who have never had it, who have had to go without coverage for extended periods, or providing improved benefits for people who had limited coverage due to chronic conditions. Today, with very limited exceptions, no one can be denied health insurance due to preexisting conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or kidney disease.  Did you sign up for a marketplace plan or were you able to get coverage through your employer when you previously were unable to?  Have you already had to use your health insurance? Let us know, we want to hear your experiences.

If you are uninsured and have not reviewed your options under the Health Insurance Marketplaces, there is still time. The deadline for enrollment in the marketplace plans and to apply for financial assistance to help pay for coverage is March 31, 2014.  You can visit www.healthcare.gov for more information.