Now the federal Affordable Care Act has been rolled out nationwide with the same goal in mind. But in an ironic twist, officials in this city are worried the new law could adversely affect some of the most vulnerable San Franciscans.
The local health program known as Healthy San Francisco, which has served as many as 60,000 patients annually since its creation in 2007, is almost free.
Obamacare plans, however, are not. They come with government subsidies that bring down costs, but premiums, co-pays and deductibles can still add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars a year. That's more than many people can afford, health advocates say.
