What are Some of the Effects of Obamacare on Seniors?

  This comes from the New York Post that reports "Elderly patients sick over losing doctors under Obamacare". The Post writes that seniors are getting notices from their insurance companies that the doctors they may be seeing under the Medicare Advantage plans are no longer in those plans. This leaves the senior with the options of staying in their current plan and choosing a new doctor still in the plan, changing insurance companies where their doctors are in, or pay out of pocket for visits to their doctor.

   The Post reports that UnitedHealthcare is dropping up to 2,100 doctors that serve 8,000 Medicare Advantage patients in the metro New York Area. While there are 2.6 million elderly New Yorkers on Medicare only about 900,000 are in Medicare Advantage HMO's by private companies. The reason for the pairing down of doctors is given to encourage higher quality health care, and to keep cost down as the under the national Affordable Care Act.

   As for responses by the insurance companies UnitedHealthcare defended the doctor roster cuts, as did Emblem and Empire Blue Cross-Blue Shield which both said the cuts were less than one percent of the current rosters. You can see the entire New York Post article here.

Bronx Elected Officials to Host an Affordable Care Act and State Health Exchange Forum

 

  Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr, Congressman Jose Serrano, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera will host an Affordable Care Act (ACA) and State Health Exchange Forum on Friday, September 27, 2013 to help inform and prepare Bronx residents, health providers, employers and employees of the changes underway to New York's health care system .

With the enrollment of New York State Health Exchange officially opening on October 1, 2013 - and the final elements of the ACA going into effect on January 1, 2014 - it is imperative for Bronxities to be well informed of the importance of enrolling in the New York State Health Exchange, the benefits of the program and the resources available to them in the Bronx.

The forum will offer attendees access to government agencies, community based organizations and local healthcare providers who will showcase how the program works for individuals and businesses and will highlight the many local resources available to help inform and guide the enrollment process.

WHAT:           Affordable Care Act & State Health Exchange Forum   

WHO:           Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

                         Congressman Jose Serrano

                         State Senator Gustavo Rivera

                       

WHEN:          Friday, September 27, 2013

                           10:00 am - 12:00 pm  

WHERE:        St. Barnabas Hospital Auditorium, 1st Floor

                            4422 Third Ave. (Enter at 182nd Street)

                            Bronx, NY 10457