Are You Ready to Enroll?

Enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (AKA Obamacare) begins on Tuesday. Are you ready for it?

While actual enrollment begins on October 1, you don’t have to wait until then to start getting ready for it. Check out this blog’s page dedicated to the Affordable Care Act to get you started. There we have plenty of links to official sources of information, printable copies of the enrollment forms, and even a full-text copy of the law.

Another excellent resource is HealthCare.gov, the official source for information related to enrolling in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Particularly useful right now is this page, which is dedicated to preparing for the enrollment process, and includes links to a checklist of things you need to enroll, a simple form that allows you to see what type of assistance (if any) you might be eligible for, and even a glossary of health insurance terms that you’ll likely encounter as you choose a plan.

One important thing to remember as you get ready to enroll is that while professional help is available to help you fill out the application, only certified assistance centers are legally allowed to do so. (St. Louis Public Library is not one of those centers, though we’re happy to point you toward someone who can help you out.) To find nearby enrollment assistance, visit LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov and search by ZIP code or city.

Keep checking back here for more information on the Affordable Care Act as enrollment begins and new information becomes available. 

Flu season is already on its way. Be prepared!

It seems like we were just sweating it out in the hot St. Louis summer, but flu season is just around the corner. In preparation for that, we’d like to shine a light on the flu and how you can stay a step ahead of it this fall and winter.

So what exactly is the flu? According to the National Institute of Health, influenza (AKA the flu) is “a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses [that] pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth.” Symptoms of the flu include: body or muscle aches, chills, cough, fever, headache, and sore throat. The NIH adds that the flu almost never includes an upset stomach. If you can’t tell if you’ve got the flu or a common cold, check out this handy comparison from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. However, it’s always best to check with your doctor if you’re not sure. The National Library of Medicine has some good guides for how to talk to your doctor about the flu, including what you need to ask to get the best treatment. Here’s the guide for adults, and here’s another one for kids.

Photo copyright Blake Patterson, 2010.     
Used under Creative Commons.

The best ways to keep from getting the flu? Again, the NIH: “get a yearly flu vaccine. Good hygiene, including hand washing, can also help.” In an article released last week, the Centers for Disease Control notes that, after receiving a flu shot, it takes up to two weeks for your body to develop an immune response. It’s also important to get a flu shot each year, as the disease changes constantly and each year presents different virus strains. If you’re wondering where you can get a vaccine, the CDC has a cool online tool to help you find locations at http://vaccine.healthmap.org/

If you’d like a bit more information, SLPL has some books focusing on the flu, including:

• 100 Questions & Answers About Influenza by Delthia Ricks
• The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu: Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work, and in the World by Allison Janse and Charles Gerba
• The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu by Neil Schachter

For kids, we have:

• Influenza and Other Viruses by Judy Monroe
• Investigating Influenza and Bird Flu: Real Facts for Real Life by Evelyn B. Kelly and Claire Wilson
• Let’s Talk About Having the Flu by Elizabeth Weitzman

You can find each of these books and more (including several on the history of the flu) on our catalog at www.slpl.org. Just search for “influenza.” Stay healthy this flu season!

"The Affordable Care Act – Simplified!" Returns September 14

We had a great turnout for Tuesday’s event, "The Affordable Care Act – Simplified," the first presentation of the library’s new Consumer Health Information Speakers Series. More than 120 people came out to hear the Missouri Foundation for Health’s Akeiisa Coleman discuss and answer questions about the Affordable Care Act and how it will affect you.

If you missed Ms. Coleman’s discussion, you’ll get another chance to learn more about the Affordable Care Act and get your questions answered this Saturday, September 14. A second helping of "The Affordable Care Act – Simplified” will feature Ryan Barker, vice president of health policy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, speaking from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in Central Library's new 250-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium at 1301 Olive Street, in downtown St. Louis.

We hope to see you there! As always, keep checking back here for more announcements about upcoming health-related events at St. Louis Public Library. A full list of SLPL events is available at http://www.slpl.org/events/calendar.asp

The Affordable Care Act – Simplified!

Everyone is curious about the Affordable Care Act and St. Louis Public Library is committed to helping you understand it better by presenting the "Affordable Care Act – Simplified," the first presentation of the library’s new Consumer Health Information Speakers Series.

Two presentations will be held in Central Library's new 250-seat, state-of-the-art auditorium at 1301 Olive Street, in downtown St. Louis. The first event features Akeiisa Coleman, health policy associate for the Missouri Foundation for Health, speaking from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10. A second presentation features Ryan Barker, vice president of health policy at the Missouri Foundation for Health, speaking from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, September 14.

Watch for more speaking engagements on timely health-related topics in 2014. And check out the blog’s Upcoming Events page for additional health-related programs, such as the Sixth Annual Living Life Expo on October 12 at the Baden Branch. As always, a full list of SLPL events is available at http://www.slpl.org/events/calendar.asp

We’ve also got a page dedicated to information about the Affordable Care Act, including links to documents that explain how the Health Insurance Marketplace works, how the Affordable Care Act is impacting the people of Missouri, links to the actual enrollment forms, and even a link to a searchable, full-text copy of the Affordable Care Act as it was passed in March 2012. We’ll keep updating the page with more information as it becomes available, so keep checking back!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Good Health Blog Spot, a new blog from St. Louis Public Library to bring you timely, accurate, and easy-to-digest information on the health issues that concern you. Join us as we explore a wide range of health topics, including prevention, health and medicine in the news, and the Affordable Care Act. While we won’t offer medical advice, we do hope to provide you with links, articles, and information that will help you make informed health care decisions. Check back regularly as we add more information!