麻州醫療保險連繫者（Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority）行政主任楊晴（Jean Yang），昨（廿）日下午撥冗與本地華文媒體晤面，呼籲亞裔社區關注奧巴馬可負擔健保法明年生效，即日起已可選購新保單。
楊晴透露，麻州醫療保險連繫者約有25萬名會員，其中大概有10萬人屬於低收入人士，在新健保法下，只要辦妥手續，轉換成符合新法規定的保險計劃，就有資格獲得聯邦政府更多補助，但在已辦手續者中，亞裔及新移民人數極少，她因此希望亞裔媒體協助提醒人們關注。
楊晴指出，該機構面向所有州民提供服務。收入高於貧窮線者，可從包括該機構的市面上任何一家醫療保險公司來挑選投保對象，需要申請聯邦補助來買醫療保險的低收入者，就基本上都須經由該機構來辦理投保手續。
目前消費者可經由該機構，從十家醫療保險公司中挑選醫療保險計劃，其中甚至包括以前沒有的牙齒保險。
她也說明，日前奧巴馬總統已宣佈，轉換保單的截止日期，以展延至明年三月。她本人上週也宣佈，將在這段期間，協助所有經由該機構購買醫療保險者，順利轉移到新的醫療保險計劃，以避免發生舊保單遭取消，新保單還沒著落的情況發生。
麻州醫療保險連繫者媒體關系主任Jason
Lefferts表示，截至昨日的最新數據為，已有66335人在該機構網站上開了帳戶，65447人已開始在網上填寫加入新保險計劃的申請表，有22679人完成了填表手續，其中有1022人挑選了新保險計劃。
Jason Lefferts指出，包括麻州在內，全美有15個州使用自己的電腦網站，供民眾上網登記，另外的35州使用聯邦政府網站。使用麻州網站上網登記者，也有一小部份人遭遇登記不順利情況，但整體情況良好。
麻州醫療保險連繫者是個半官方機構，共有十一名董事，四人為前政府官員，七人來自企業界，其中四名董事由州長指派，三名董事由總檢察官指派。
北京大學畢業後，來美獲得哈佛大學商管碩士的楊晴，在今年一月獲聘為麻州醫療保險連繫者行政主任之前，原為該機構的財務長，在2012及2013年的會計年度間，順利購得有補助的聯邦護理項目（Commonwealth
Care program），使得保費在兩年間降低12%。在加入該機構前，楊晴曾任麻州塔芙茨醫療計劃的合約策略及分析主任，也做過麥肯錫顧問公司，德勤（Deloitte）顧問公司的管理顧問。
圖片說明：
楊晴希望亞裔社區知道奧巴馬可負擔健保對每個人都有影響，能花點時間查查各人狀況。（菊子攝）
Letter From Governor Patrick to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation on the Affordable Care Act
BOSTON- Friday, November 15, 2013 – Governor Deval Patrick today sent the following letter regarding the Affordable Care Act to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation:
To the Members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation:
As you consider current proposals to change the Affordable Care Act (ACA), I write to remind you about what we have learned from health care reform in Massachusetts, and to inform you of some of our experiences so far with implementing it.
We have seen firsthand the positive changes brought about by a strong individual insurance market with protections that ensure a basic level of care. Individuals are protected from being dropped from insurance when they need it most, or being denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Benefits must meet minimum standards, and there are limits on individuals’ exposure to out-of-pocket costs for needed health care. And the rest of us are protected against having our premiums inflated or our taxes tapped to pick up the tab for the uninsured or underinsured. With these basic features in place, we have achieved near universal coverage, better health and slower growth in health costs. With the ACA, the same can and will happen for the country.
Much has been made of the fact that some Americans have had their current policies canceled by their insurers. Some of that, we know, is in the normal course of annual insurance renewals. Some is because the existing policies do not provide the minimum level of coverage required by the ACA. So long as the means for individuals to learn about and enroll in affordable alternatives is available, through an improved website, a call center or otherwise, the transition of people from non-compliant policies to compliant ones should proceed.
Nonetheless, the public has been poorly informed about this transition, and too many consumers are unable to enroll conveniently in compliant plans. For some, the temporary delay proposed yesterday by the President may be appropriate. Our experience in Massachusetts tells us that our health plans and their customers have prepared for the transition and are unlikely to need or to use the additional time.
However, any delay in requiring plans to meet the basic standards of the ACA must only be temporary. Leaving non-compliant plans to remain permanently in place means we revert to the status quo: a broken health care system where many people carry policies that don't cover them when they get seriously ill, and where those with comprehensive coverage pay for those uninsured or underinsured in higher premiums and taxes. Permitting plans to be permanently non-compliant means the pool of individuals who do purchase plans through the marketplaces will likely be sicker on average, and their options will be more expensive and constrained. And it will disrupt the market-based model on which premiums and policy options hinge.
We benefit in Massachusetts from broad, bipartisan support for health reform and the willingness of our legislature -- encouraged by business, labor, industry, patient advocates and others -- to make refinements to our plan as we go. The President does not enjoy that collaboration with the Congress, and the American people suffer as a result. If you wish to take further legislative action to ensure the successful extension of the benefits of the ACA to all our citizens, I would humbly propose that you consider granting the administration broader authority to make adjustments to the ACA by regulation so long as such regulations advance the fundamental goal. That way any administration can make changes in the details of implementation quickly in response to lessons learned along the way.
The fundamental goal of the Affordable Care Act is to give all Americans access to reliable, quality health insurance at a reasonable cost. Guaranteeing a basic level of coverage for everyone is the first step towards fixing our broken health care system and promoting a healthier population. We have seen in Massachusetts how well it works and how important it is. While the transition is challenging for some, I urge you not to lose sight of the long-term good for all as you consider any changes or adjustments to the Affordable Care Act.
For these reasons, I urge you to oppose any bill that extends access to non-compliant plans beyond a short transition period.
With continued thanks for your partnership, I am
Respectfully yours,
Governor Deval L. Patrick
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