BY BARBARA WILLIAMS
"An MRI might cost about $5,000 here, but in Korea it would be about $50," Choi said. "A doctor's visit might cost about $5 in Korea, but surgeries are a lot more."
Taebyung Park, 55, of Ridgefield delivers sushi for a living and has been without insurance for 20 years. He goes to a Korean pharmacy for medications when he isn't feeling well but will soon sign up for insurance.
"It's the law, so I will get it," Park said through an interpreter. "It wasn't easy getting information on Obamacare, but this seminar has helped a great deal. I'm still waiting to get an email back to see what subsidies I qualify for, and it will be nice to have peace of mind once I sign up."
Korean-Americans weren't the only ones at Holy Name. Ana Rivas, an employee with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, was helping Spanish-speaking residents slog through the questions and choices on HealthCare.gov. "People are confused and don't understand what a co-pay is or a premium," Rivas said. "Many think Obamacare is its own insurance plan."
Gloria Jaramillo, 56, worked with Rivas to go through her options. Her full-time job in a company with 17 people does not offer medical benefits and the Little Ferry woman has had no insurance for 13 or 14 years. She's been paying $140 a month out-of-pocket for her blood pressure medication. "It's been difficult and I've worried that I could get sick," Jaramillo said. "This law will help a lot of people like me ..."
For residents who don't speak English, help is available in 150 languages through the federal marketplace, said Alescia Teel, the New Jersey coordinator for Enroll America, a national non-profit created to help implement the new law.
- See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/241051131_Minority_populations_getting_insurance_takes_on_new_mission.html?page=2#sthash.6H5B5YUo.dpuf
Soource NorthJersey.com
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