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Plenty of questions at Town Hall meeting on Affordable Care Act

Posted: Wed, Oct 16, 2013 5:49 PM

A crowd of just under 40 people attend town hall meeting Wednesday at the Hotel Winneshiek on the new Iowa Health Insurance Marketplace. 

The Iowa Insurance Division, the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Department of Human Services set up the town hall meeting and presented information about the new health care law.

An estiamted 3,400 Winneshiek County residents are eligible for Obamacare.  That led a number of financial planners, tax consultants and personnel directors to attend the meeting.

The Iowa Marketplace is a tool for consumers and small business owners who need more affordable health insurance or don't have insurance at all.  It allows Iowans to research different health care plans, find out if they qualify for tax credits to purchase health insurance, or buy private health insurance if they need it.

At Wednesday's meeting, state employees admitted "there have been some complications with the (healthcare.gov) website," somewhat of an understatement.  But they stressed that there will be several months before deadlines kick in--giving people time to access the website.

They also stressed that people with private health insurance plans they have participated in since 2010 will not be required to comply with the new insurance regulations.