FoodBank Spreads The Word About Obamacare Options

Health care in the United States and insurance in general can be a little bit tricky to navigate. Confused about the affordable health care act and what it means for you?

There's some help coming soon from a Jersey Shore based non-profit organization. The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties have been awarded a federal grant to help make sure everyone gets the care they need and understand all of the options available.

$137,000 will help them fund navigator programs. They are meant to help you sign up for insurance through the federal health exchanges. The federal government has awarded five New Jersey organizations $2 million to pay for outreach efforts to get state residents to enroll. The health insurance companies that have applied to sell insurance through the exchanges haven't been announced just yet, but an announcement is due in the near future.

Foodbank Executive Director Carlos Rodriguez says "we have done a lot of research and realize there is a direct connection between hunger and health. The quality of life on people struggling to put food on the table can cause additional issues for a family. It is also startling to see that around 40 percent of the people we aid have no health insurance. We are hoping to help change that."

Because the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it is most often referred to, has so many parts and options, the group will use the money to help spread the word about choices and put people on track for coverage. They will accomplish this over the phone and in person.

In the coming weeks, the organization will be releasing more information on their web site - foodbankmoc.org/.