McAuliffe, Rep. Scott join Hampton residents for Obamacare signup

Daily Press (Newport News, VA)

Jan. 29--Governor Terry McAuliffe, Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, and Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News emphasized the value of healthcare accessibility on Saturday at the Hampton Convention Center.

"I understand the importance of what it means when people don't have access to their provider," Northam told a crowd at the Mega Enroll Fest event, which provided assistance with healthcare registration before the cutoff date of Jan 31. He asked the crowd to imagine their child catching a fever when they don't have health insurance.

"You're scared at home -- do you take them to the emergency room? You don't have coverage, you need to make a payment on your house, you need to pay your light bill," Northam said. "We shouldn't have to make those decisions here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. And that's what the Affordable Care Act has done for Virginia."

Scott spoke to the social and economic impacts of repealing the Affordable Care Act, and said insurance costs could sky rocket out of control.

"If they repeal it," 20 to 30 million could lose their insurance," Scott said during the event. The insurance industry would be so chaotic, no one would be able to get insurance, he said.

Gaylene Kanoyton, founder of Celebrate Healthcare LLC, the healthcare outreach company that hosted the enroll fest, said she expected 200 attendees at the weekend event. The free two-day enrollment is Saturday, Jan. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hampton Convention Center 1610 Coliseum Dr.

Celebrate Healthcare LLC, has hosted more than 100 similar enrollment events in throughout the state since the Affordable Care Act was enacted 7 years ago.

Barbara Boone of Suffolk came out to the enroll fest Saturday after learning about it on the news Saturday morning, she said. Boone was involved in a tractor-trailer accident in October, which affected her spine and has kept her from working. She doesn't have health insurance, and recently has not bee able to obtain her medicine, she said.

"I came because I'm handicapped and wanted to see if I qualified for it [health insurance]."

Melissa McNeil of Hampton, attended the enroll fest Saturday because her nephew performed with his Drill team. But the 21-year-old also wanted to learn more about the future of Obamacare, because she is uncertain what will happen with her plan, she said. She's currently enrolled on her own and pays less than $100 a month, she said.

"I love Obamacare," McNeil said, and losing it is a worry. "That's my biggest concern because most jobs don't offer healthcare insurance.

Those who have not yet registered can visit Cover Virginia website here. Follow Smith on Twitter @hillarysmith21. Follow the Daily Press @Daily_Press.

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