Some Libraries Resist Assisting ObamaCare – Some Librarians Express Concerns

 Reblogged from 21st Century Library Blog:

While I’ve been busy with other things, I let this issue raised at ALA slip past unnoticed. Issues in library world don’t go unnoticed for very long, especially when they deal with government intrusion. Apparently, during ALA 2013 Conference a video was played in which there was a White House appeal to public librarians to help Americans understand the new Affordable Healthcare Act insurance system that goes into effect whenever – maybe.

Read more… 1,597 more words

I am hoping that the federal government can do a bit more to provide resources for librarians about ACA.

Back in my public library days, it wasn’t easy working with patrons when the topic was against my views!

However, I always tried to address people’s information needs without bias and as completely as possible with factual information.

“ObamaCare” questions are in the same arena.  While librarians cannot advise or fill out forms, they can at least lead folks to factual information. However, this would work best if the federal government would do everything possible to lighten the load for libraries.  This would include providing readable materials for consumers, as well as “pathways” for librarians.

Also, libraries can welcome trained volunteers and organizations to give in-depth information to folks. Many already do this around tax time with IRS trained volunteers.

Here in Toledo, folks from legal aid organizations “set up shop” in public libraries to assist folks. Representatives from the Ohio Benefit Bank do likewise. These volunteers screen people for government assistance programs as SNAP and the Medicare Savings Program.

It sure would be great if government employees and/or trained volunteers could do likewise for “ObamaCare”.  Areas could include the health exchange marketplace, Medicaid expansion, free preventative care, and more.

And with articles as this, there is a real need for information professionals, including librarians!

Ohio insurance department claims Obamacare premium rates to rise 41 percent (Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 1, 2013)

Ohio insurance regulators Thursday released rates for health insurance to be sold on the new state marketplace and said premiums for individuals will rise an average of 41 percent compared with 2013 rates.

That average brought immediate condemnation from critics of the Affordable Care Act, with U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, a southwest Ohio Republican, calling it “irrefutable evidence” that the law known as Obamacare is driving up costs and hurting the economy……..

Related articles

• [Repost] The ACA Countdown (jflahiff.wordpress.com)
• Got 1:43 minutes to learn about health exchanges? (jflahiff.wordpress.com)

• US consumers don’t understand health insurance, Carnegie Mellon research shows (Medical News Today, 2 August 2013)

“…only 11 percent of respondents presented with a traditional insurance plan incorporating all four of these elements were able to compute the cost of a four-day hospital stay when given the information that should have enabled them to do so…

“”The ACA deals with the problem of consumer misunderstanding by requiring insurance companies to publish standardized and simplified information about insurance plans, including what consumers would pay for four basic services,” noted lead author Loewenstein. “However, presenting simplified information about something that is inherently complex introduces a risk of ‘smoothing over’ real complexities. A better approach, in my view, would be to require insurance companies to offer truly simplified insurance products that consumers are capable of understanding.”

• What Makes a Good Librarian? (mediabistro.com)
• Perception of the New Librarian (waycrosslibrarian.wordpress.com)
• [Repost] The ACA Countdown (jflahiff.wordpress.com)
• Got 1:43 minutes to learn about health exchanges? (jflahiff.wordpress.com)
• Obama Will Use Librarians To Push Obama-Care (sweetness-light.com)
• Shopping for Health Insurance? Visit Your Local Library For Help With The Exchanges (medicaldaily.com)
• Librarians to Help With Health Insurance Law (infodocket.com)
• WH won’t release video of Obama thanking librarians for pushing Obamacare (bizpacreview.com)
• White House recruits librarians to promote ObamaCare (foxnews.com)
• Louisiana Library workers told they will help ObamaCare Applicants (forum.prisonplanet.com)

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• Louisiana Library workers told they will help ObamaCare Applicants (forum.prisonplanet.com)