Get Answers About the Affordable Care Act Next Week

Confused about the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? You're not alone.

Two seminars being held next week in Monmouth and Ocean Counties will serve as a clearing house of information on how the ACA works, what it covers, what you qualify for, what it will cost you and most importantly how to sign up before the March 31st deadline.

Organizing For Action Jersey Shore Chapter Leader Marianne Clemente said Garden State residents are signing up for the ACA but very slowly. She attributes that to a lack of information blaming Governor Chris Christie's refusal to set up healthcare exchanges and to spend $7.6 million federal dollars to promote and advertise the ACA in New Jersey.

Two Information forums are scheduled next week. The first is taking place in Monmouth County on February 18th in Ocean Township at the West Park Recreation Center, 615 West Park Avenue in Oakhurst. The second forum is scheduled on February 19th in Ocean County at the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library in the Mancini Hall at 101 Washington Avenue. Both forums start at 6 p.m. Call Marianne at 212-249-6292 email Organizing for action at: ofa.jerseyshore@gmail.com

Clemente said they're concerned people will fall through the cracks in getting affordable health insurance because a lot of them don't know they have a deadline to register and many are unsure if they qualify. "We've been at Ocean County Community College trying to get to college students and some of them don't even know that they're eligible to have health insurance," explained Clemente.

Those who don't register by the deadline will have to wait until October to enroll for the 2015 year.

Panelist include a Healthcare Navigator Representative from the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, a representative from the New Jersey Health and Human Services Department and a representative from the New Jersey Hospital Association.