Health secretary pushing Obamacare in Philly

The U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services visited Philadelphia today to talk about implementing the next phase of “Obamacare.”

It’s been almost three years since the president signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says she has high hopes the provisions that kick in this fall will make a big dent into the 48 million people without health insurance.

“About 200,000 of those are right here in Philadelphia, but thanks to the Affordable Care Act starting on the first of October there will be an open enrollment period for people who are eligible to go on the open market and find health insurance that works for themselves and their families,” Sebelius said.

Mayor Michael Nutter says affordable health care is necessary and his administration will do what it can to enroll Philadelphians.

 “The opportunity to partner with the federal government utilizing their resources utilizing resources already in place is just a winner all the way around,” said Nutter.

Sebelius says even though Pennsylvania and New Jersey have opted not to create their own health insurance exchanges to make it easier for people to comparison shop for coverage, she’s hopeful Governors Corbett and Christie will change their minds once they see exchanges in action.