In our country, access to health care is very important, and the passage of the ACA was meant to increase access to thos

[answerhappygod]

In our country, access to health care is very important, and the passage of the ACA was meant to increase access to those that might not otherwise have any health insurance. What has been your experience navigating the health insurance "maze" for yourself and your family, either applying via your employer, applying for public insurance such as Medicaid/Medicare (for older relatives), or applying via the insurance exchanges in healthcare.gov? Have you found healthcare services that are medically and culturally appropriate where you live, and are you or your partner/wife able to access preventive screenings that the ACA offers? (i.e. Pap screenings, mammograms, prenatal care, etc). If you're uninsured, how do you manage your health needs?
Given that women share a larger burden of the costs of health care -- due to reproductive health, childbirth, and long-term care in older age -- how do the challenges of health care access also affect uninsured, homeless or undocumented women, women w/disabilities, and poor elderly women in your community? How do communities address these needs, and are there any successful programs/resources that you see making a difference in connecting women of all ages to appropriate health services?