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US Health Secretary Sebelius Visits Philadelphia To Highlight New Obamacare Features

By Paul Kurtz

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services joined Mayor Nutter in North Philadelphia Thursday for a town hall meeting about the Affordable Care Act.

"A brand new day is coming," said Kathleen Sebelius, referring to October 1st, when people without health care coverage will be eligible to enroll in a "marketplace" to buy affordable health insurance.

She told the largely Hispanic audience that a good place to start their research is on her department's new web site.

"Healthcare.gov, and the the Spanish version is cuidadodesalud.gov," Sebelius said.  "Anyone can access the web site, begin to develop an account, get information about what's coming, get questions answered."

The Nutter administration has set up a web site of its own which can be accessed through phila.gov.

However, the mayor points out, many people who are currently uninsured may not be eligible for Obamacare -- and he blames Governor Tom Corbett for that.

"The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has refused to expand (eligibility for) Medicaid, and that means that more than 100,000 uninsured Philadelphians will remain uninsured," Nutter said today, adding, "That is a disgrace."

Nutter also blasted members of Congress for repeatedly attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

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