CuidadoDeSalud.Gov now up and running

For too long, I've seen young people throughout San Antonio who work hard every day, often while attending college, whose employers don't offer health insurance. Parents in our community work long hours, but haven't been able to afford health insurance for their children. Without insurance, members of our community have skipped important doctor's visits, struggled when they get sick, and gone broke when cancer strikes or they're badly hurt in an accident.

If you are one of those people who doesn't have health insurance, or you have insurance that doesn't meet your needs or your budget, now is the time to look at your options in the new health care Marketplace.

The federal government's health care website tripped and fell on its way out of the starting gate, but it is now running strong. The technical problems with the website have largely been fixed. On one recent day nearly a million Americans successfully visited Healthcare.gov.

Now that the Spanish website, CuidadoDeSalud.gov, is up and running, even more members of our community can take advantage of the insurance options through the Marketplace.

You might want to move fast. If you enroll in a plan by December 23 and pay your premium by December 31, you can visit a doctor using your new insurance coverage as soon as January 1, 2014.

Y ou can go online or call 1 -800318-2596 to compare new health insurance options, learn about financial help, and select a plan.

Many Texans will qualify for financial assistance when they buy insurance through the Marketplace. Individuals qualify if their annual income is between $11,490 and $45,960. A family of four qualifies if it earns $23,550 to $94,200 per year.

Unfortunately, Texans with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level of $ 11,490 for an individual or $23,550 for a family of four are not eligible for financial assistance under the program because Gov. Perry and many of my Republican colleagues in the Texas legislature did not want to expand Medicaid.

Each insurance plan in the Marketplace will provide the essential benefits that Texans need, including coverage for doctor and hospital visits, preexisting conditions, preventative care, and prescriptions.

In fact, for the first time ever, preventive services like recommended cancer and diabetes screenings are now available free of charge to consumers, regardless of how they get their insurance. Cancer screenings save lives by catching problems early, and can also save families money over the long term.

For the first time insurance companies are also prohibited from denying health coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions such as cancer, asthma, or diabetes. Insurance companies can no longer charge you more because of your diabetes or other conditions.

I look forward to our community becoming healthier and more financially stable as more people sign up for comprehensive, affordable health insurance.

State Represenative Mike Villarreal