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DaviD J. PhilliP — The associaTeD Press swan lockett stands in the courtyard of her apartment complex Monday in houston. By Judy Lin The Associated Press SACRAMENTO » Swan Lock- ett had high hopes that Pres- ident Barack Obama's health overhaul would lead her fam- ily to an affordable insurance plan, but that hasn't hap- pened. Instead, the 46-year-old mother of four from Texas uses home remedies or pays $75 to see a doctor when she has an asthma attack. "If I don't have the money, I just let it go on its own," Lockett said. The federal health care overhaul has provided cov - erage for millions of Ameri- cans, but it has only chipped away at one of its core goals: to sharply reduce the num- ber of people without insur- ance. President Barack Obama announced last week that 8 million people have signed up for coverage through new insurance exchanges, but barriers continue to prevent millions of people around the nation from accessing care. Obstacles remain Questions of affordabil- ity, eligibility, immigrant ac- cess and the response from employers and state leg- islatures — obstacles that existed before the Afford- able Care Act took effect — mean considerable work lies ahead. There are myriad reasons why people remain uncov - ered. Some are eligible for discounted policies but say they still can't afford their share of exchange plans. Others earn too much for subsidies. Immigrants liv - ing in the country illegally are blocked from obtaining care under the law. Dozens of states haven't expanded Medicaid. And some employ - ers have reduced staff hours to avoid being mandated to provide care. "I'm a nurse, but my em - ployer doesn't offer health in- surance," said Gwen Eliezer, 32, who lives north of Ashe- ville, N.C. Eliezer works an average of 29 hours a week at a nurs- ing home, so her employer isn't required to cover her. She qualifies for a subsidy but says the plan she found with a $200 monthly pre - mium and $6,500 deductible is too expensive. So while her 6-year-old son qualified for Medicaid during open en - rollment, she goes without. She pays cash to see a doc- tor for gastrointestinal pain but says she can't afford to get the problem diagnosed. "If I went through an emergency room, I can claim acute pain," she said. "But then I'd end up with a lot of debt to a hospital." Number of newly insured not certain Before the launch of the Affordable Care Act, about 48 million people, or 15 per- cent of the population, went without health insurance, according to the U.S. Cen- sus Bureau. The number of people recently enrolled in- cludes those who switched from previous plans, and it's not clear how many pre- viously uninsured people are now covered. The share of adults with- out insurance shrank from 17.1 percent at the end of last year to 15.6 percent for the first three months of 2014, according to a Gal - lup-Healthways Well-Being Index released this month. The decline would translate to about 3.5 million people gaining coverage, accord - ing to the study. Health advocates say their work isn't finished. Califor- nia "has made huge prog- ress with the new benefits of the Affordable Care Act," said Anthony Wright, exec- utive director of Health Ac- cess California. "But there's more to do." For individuals in need of care, high premiums, co- pays and deductibles present challenges that often can't be overcome. Immigrants living in the U.S. illegally are ineligible for coverage under the law. The Migration Policy Insti - tute estimates that more than 7.5 million people fall into this category and rely on emergency rooms and safety net clinics. About 1 million members of this population are from California. "When I see there are A mer ica n citizens who don't have access to health care because they can't pay for it, I figure that I'll have even less of a chance to have access to health services," said Jose Diaz, a 67-year-old day laborer in Pomona, who came to the U.S. illegally from Mexico City nearly a decade ago. "It's very sad." A Medicaid expansion could help close that gap, and the federal government has offered to pay states nearly all of the costs for covering individuals who earn up to $16,000 a year, 138 percent of the federal poverty wage. However, 24 states have opted against it, saying they don't trust the federal gov - ernment to deliver on its promises and don't want to be stuck with a program they can't afford. Texas is among that group, and Lockett says that's keeping her shut out. The Houston woman says she earns too much for Med - icaid or a subsidy but can't afford a full plan. Lockett earns $1,225 a month. She takes her four children — a 5-year-old daughter, 18-year- old twin boys and a 19-year- old son — to the emergency room or a community clinic when the need care. An asthma attack two months ago cost her $75, which she says is a notice - able chunk of her monthly income. "I was disappointed," Lockett said, "because I was kind of excited about getting on the Affordable Care Act on the marketplace." Chipping away at a core goal AffORdABLE CARE ACT By Paul Wiseman The Associated Press WASHINGTON » Spring's thaw is reviving the econ- omy, too. A recent batch of gov- ernment and business re- ports show a U.S. economy emerging from winter's deep freeze. Economists had expected the growth to accelerate in 2014 after two years of slow and steady improvement. But an unusually bitter win - ter sent factories, hiring and consumer spending into hi- bernation. Now, as temperatures rise, the economy is regaining mo- mentum. Factories are bus- ier. Consumers are spend- ing more. Banks are making more loans to businesses. Companies have bigger plans to invest in plants and equip - ment. And the improvement appears to be widespread across the country. " The weather rea l ly played havoc. There were ice storms in Georgia. That is not something you see ev - ery day," said Michael Do- lega, senior economist at TD Economics. "Now, as Americans have dug them- selves out and everything has melted, you're going to get a bounce back." An index based on sev - eral leading economic indica- tors— including employment, consumer confidence, stocks and interest rates — shot up for the third straight month in March, the Conference Board, a business research association, said on Monday. The index's 0.8 percent gain to 100.9 "suggests accelerated growth for the remainder of the spring and the summer," said Ken Goldstein, a Confer - ence Board economist. Many economists expect the economy to grow at an annual rate of 3 percent or more from April through June, up from an estimated 1.3 percent the first three months of the year. The positive economic news has sparked a rally on Wall Street the past week. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 0.9 percent for the year and is near its record close of 1,890 set April 2. Helping to drive the growth have been recent in - creases in manufacturing after tumbling in January. Factory production climbed 0.5 percent in March, after a 1.4 percent surge the previ - ous month, the Federal Re- serve reported last week. This suggests that manu- facturers anticipate that de- mand from businesses and consumers will increase. After the winter slow- down, recovering motor ve- hicle sales have boosted rev- enue for companies such as Batesville Tool & Die in Batesville, Ind. "We feel like the auto in - dustry is all the way back from before the recession," said Jody Fledderman, the company's president and CEO. "The numbers we see are fully recovered from then. We expect to see 4 to 8 percent increases in the in - dustry overall for the next three or four years." Weekly government re- ports on unemployment ben- efits show that most employ- ers are prepping for stronger growth in the months ahead. Claims for jobless bene- fits are a proxy for layoffs. The four-week average for unemployment claims have plunged to a 6 ½-year low, according to the Labor De - partment. The most recent weekly average was 312,000 appli- cations, down from 357,000 a year ago and the smallest average since October 2007, which was two months be - fore the Great Recession started. ECONOMy Thawing out: Warmer temps li economic growth prospects By Steven Wuzubia Health Corr espondent; Clearwater, Florida: N othing's more frustrating than when you forget names… misplace your keys... or just feel "a little confused". And even though your foggy memory gets laughed off as just another "senior moment", it's not very funny when it keeps happening to you. Well now, a retired Israeli submarine commander thinks he can fix that. "When you're responsible for protecting millions from harm; you must take your job seriously. You have to be focused, have intense concentration and a memory that won't tolerate failure." That's why ex- military man, David Rutenberg developed Lipogen PS Plus... A new military grade memory formulation that's helped thousands of people get their memory back. Even if you're in your 70's, 80's and beyond. You can now stay mentally fit, focused and "fog-free" Here's why... Like gray hair and reading glasses... some people accept their memory loss as just a part of getting older. But it doesn't have to be that way. That's why Lipogen PS Plus has caught the attention of some of the world's most prominent brain experts. Unblock Your Brain Made exclusively in Israel, this incredible supplement feeds your brain the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. It was formulated by Dr. Meir Shinitzky, Ph.D., former visiting professor at Duke University, and recipient of the prestigious J.F. Kennedy Prize. Dr. Shinitzky explains; "Science has shown, when your brain nutrient levels drop, you can start to experience memory problems. Your ability to concentrate and stay focused becomes compromised. And gradually, a "mental fog" sets in. It can damage every aspect of your life". In recent ye ars, researchers identified the importance of a remarkable compound called phosphatidylserine (PS). It's the key ingredient in Lipogen PS Plus. And crucial to your ability to learn and remember things as you age. Earth-shaking Science Published, clinical reports show re- plenishing your body's natural supply of Phosphatidylserine, not only helps sharpen your memory and concentration— but also helps "perk you up" and put you in a better mood. Your Memory Unleashed! Lipogen PS Plus is an impressive fusion of the most powerful, natural memory compounds on Earth. This drug-free brain- boosting formula enters your bloodstream fast (in as little as thirty minutes). It produces amazing results. Especially for people who have tried everything to improve their memory before, but failed. Lipogen PS Plus gives your brain the vital boost it needs to jump-start your focus and mental clarity. "It truly is a godsend!" says Shinitzky. Significant Memory Improvements In1992,doctorstestedphosphatidylserine on a select group of people aged 60-80 years old. Their test scores showed impressive memory improvement. Test subjects could remember more and were more mentally alert. But doctors noticed something else. The group taking phosphatidylserine, not only enjoyed sharper memory, but were also more upbeat and remarkably happy. In contrast, the moods of the individuals who took the placebo (starch pill), remained unaffected. But in order to truly appreciate how well Lipogen PS Plus works for your memory— you really have to try it. And now you can... Special "See For Yourself" Risk-Free Supply We've made arrangements with the distributor of Lipogen PS Plus to offer you a special "Readers Only Discount". This trial is 100% risk-free. It's a terrific deal. If Lipogen PS Plus doesn't help you think better, remember more... and improve your mind, clarity and mood – you won't pay a penny! (Except S&H). But you must act fast. Your order can only be guaranteed if it comes in within the next 7-days. After that, supplies could run out. And your order may not be fulfilled until they are replenished. So don't wait. Now you can join the thousands of people who think better, remember more—and enjoy clear, "fog- free" memory. Think of it as making a "wake-up call" to your brain. Call Now, Toll Free! 1-800-698-0913 My Memory Was Starting to Fail Me. I would forget all kinds of things and something that I just said earlier in the day would have completely slipped my mind. I almost forgot my granddaughter's birthday and that would have been horrible. I had forgotten lots of other little things along the way. I was worried about it. Over the last several months I've noticed my memory seemed to be getting pretty unreliable and so I thought I'd better do something about it now. So when I read about Lipogen PS Plus and how much it would help me with my memory I wanted to try it. It's great! I have actual recall now, which is super. After about 6 weeks of taking it on a daily basis is when I began to notice that I wasn't forgetting things anymore. Thanks Lipogen PS Plus for giving me my memory back. It's given me a lot more self-confidence and self-esteem. I would not trust my memory without it. - Ethel Macagnoney THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DI- AGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE. RESULTS BASED UPON AVERAGES. MODELS ARE USED IN ALL PHOTOS TO PROTECT PRIVACY ADVERTISEMENT Are you tired of feeling "foggy"... absent-minded... or confused? Find out how some people stay sharp and mentally focused --- even at age 90! Here's their secret... Teach Your Brain How to Remember Again -- with Just a Simple Pill Do you get lost going to places you used to know how to get to? Do you forget important doctor visits or dates? Do you spend a lot of time looking for things like your glasses or keys? HEALTH & SCIENCE Officially Reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Lipogen PS Plus safety has been reviewed by the FDA (FDA GRAS Notice No. GRN 000186) PS is the ONLY health supplement with a FDA "qualified health claim" for BOTH, COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION AND DEmENTIA. Dr. Meir Shinitzky, Ph.D., is one of the world's leading experts in the physiology and function of cell membranes. TuesDay, aPril 22, 2014 reDBluFFDailyNeWs.coM | NEWS | 3 B