By Julian Hadley
The Scene staff
Light rain and chilly temperatures may have dampened turnout at the Affordable Health Care Kickoff Rally at Forest Park this month.
But certified “navigators” were ready to provide information, answer questions and help people sign up for health insurance when they arrived at Café East.
“The mission is to inform the public,” said Missouri State Rep. Joshua Peters. “That’s what this is all about.”
The Affordable Health Care Act, also known as Obamacare, went into effect Oct. 1. It was a rocky unveiling, as unanticipated high demand caused the government website to crash repeatedly.
Local, state and national agencies across the country are holding informational events like the one at Forest Park, which was organized by Missouri State Rep. Kim Gardner and Susan King Edmiston, campus public information and marketing coordinator.
“We chose to have the event in Café East at Forest Park because it is in my district, and the campus is centrally located,” Gardner said. “The campus has been here a long time and has provided lots of benefits to this community.”
Some residents showed up for the event, but didn’t talk to navigators. They grabbed glossy, full-color handouts to take home and study on their own, as well as free cinnamon rolls.
Sidney Watson, a law professor at St. Louis University, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Affordable Health Care Act.
“We have options now,” she said.
New resident Windi Josephs attended Watson’s talk. Her son recently sustained an injury that required extensive treatment. Her questions revolved around how changes in income and life circumstances affect eligibility for health insurance.
Not all of Josephs’ questions were answered at the event, but she thinks Obamacare is a good thing.
“It’s going to give us more control over our health-plan choices,” she said.
Navigators are professionals in the community who are trained to help the public understand the Affordable Health Care Act and sign up for suitable health-insurance plans.
Navigator Donna Stevens, of Grace Hill Health Center, greeted people at Cafe East with a friendly smile while assembling informational packets.
Other professionals came to Forest Park from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Missouri Foundation for Health and St. Louis University Law School.