Although Hawaii’s employer-based health coverage system works well, it’s less successful when many people fall off the employment rolls. That means more people now will be interested to learn that open enrollment just began for the Affordable Care Act, extending through Dec. 15. Enroll at www.healthcare.gov, or call 1-800-318-2596.

And yes, this is the same federal program (ACA, also known as Obamacare) due to come before the U.S. Supreme Court next week. For now, it’s still an option.

Another threat to coffee crops

Dealing with the devastating effects of the invasive coffee borer beetle is a daunting challenge for Hawaii’s coffee industry. Now, despite efforts to shield the state from coffee leaf rust, which has afflicted other major coffee-growing regions — Southeast Asia, Africa, Central and South America — the fungus recently turned up on Maui and perhaps Hawaii island. Gerry Ross, president of the Maui Coffee Association, said that while the industry will survive, this pest can cause severe defoliation. Survival may require trying out whole new varieties of resistant coffee plants. Let’s hope efforts to contain further spread are successful.