For years as a student at Everett Community College, I was without health insurance. I personally know many who shared that much too common status. I remember not scheduling doctors’ appointments because I couldn’t afford it even at the community clinics. The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) is a step toward progress in our country and a movement toward an understanding that health care and medicine is a basic human right, not a privilege for those who can afford it.

I want to share a few of the many advantages of Obamacare and how it’s helped myself and so many others. All plans on the exchange cover preventive care — including annual well-woman exams, birth control, and cancer screenings — for free, without a copay. Children can now stay on their parents plan until age 26. The insured no longer get denied or pay more if they get sick and so far thousands across our state have signed up, but time is running out.

I encourage the uninsured to check out wahealthplanfinder.org to browse prices on the exchange, for some you may qualify for Medicaid expansion or subsidies to lower the premiums. If you think you will need a little personal help signing up, visit wahbexchange.org for calendar and enrollment events throughout our community. The deadline for open enrollment is March 31. Planned Parenthood is also another great resource to sign up, plannedparenthood.org, they have health-care navigators ready for any questions.

Joshua Wixson

(Planned Parenthood Volunteer)

Everett