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Iowa's ACA Navigators Prepare for Health Care Sign-Up Despite Uncertainty

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Jennifer Morrow
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Navigators are getting ready to sign Iowans up for Obamacare next month despite uncertainty surrounding the health care law. They are preparing for the regular enrollment period as state and federal lawmakers continue to push for changes to the Affordable Care Act.

Karen Sullivan of Visiting Nurse Services manages a program in central Iowa that helps people sign up for insurance through the ACA. She says navigators are still scheduling appointments for November. 

"What we’d like to tell those people that are afraid that they can’t afford health insurance, at least schedule a time one-on-one with the navigator, sit down and go through the process so we can discover whether or not it’ll be affordable for you as an individual," Sullivan says. 

Sullivan says if Iowa’s stopgap measure is approved, she will educate those who made appointments on how to use that system.

"Don’t just throw your hands up in the air and say, ‘It’s gonna be bad and I can’t do this this year,’" Sullivan says. "We’ll be glad to sit down one on one and help consumers navigate the system, shop for a plan, and choose a plan for health insurance." 

Open enrollment starts Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15.

Katarina Sostaric is IPR's State Government Reporter