A grandmother who’s now taking care of her five-year-old granddaughter. An uncle who’s helping his nephew start his own business. These are the people that the Washington Post found, people who changed their careers because of Obamacare.
Since the Congressional Budget Office reported last week that Americans would stop working or work less under the health care reform law, Republicans and Democrats have debated whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing. The GOP is arguing that the law could destroy the U.S. work ethic by disincentivizing work; Democrats say that giving people more flexibility to choose what they want to do is a good thing.
With the help of a pro-Obamacare group, the Post tracked down two people who have already altered their careers with an assist from Obamacare.
Polly Lower, a 56-year-old Indiana grandmother, stepped down in September after her boss asked her to start working hours that she didn’t like. She was able to purchase coverage through HealthCare.gov that costs her less than $500 per month, and her new full-time job is babysitting her granddaughter.
“It was wonderful. It was very freeing,” she told the Post.
Eddie Gonzalez-Novoa, a 44-year-old Houston resident, had quit a well-paying position last year to help his nephew, who survived cancer, launch a website for others who were ill. He had purchased a skimpy plan that didn’t cover the pills or procedures that he needed.
He was considering finding a different job that would provide better health benefits when he discovered he qualified for financial help under Obamacare. He’s paying $170 per month for a plan and has been able to continue working with his nephew on the website.
