Has anybody used the healthcare.gov site

[sailor47]

Has anybody navigated the affordable health care site yet. If so what are they offering for the different options. I think there are four options.

[janmcn]

I just read that the call centers are 100% operational, so if you can't get through on-line perhaps you can call. They are open 24/7. Sorry I don't have the phone number.

[JAV0108]

My hubby has been trying to get through since day one. We made an appointment today to talk to an agent, they couldn't get on and we called another insurance (Blue Cross) and they wouldn't even make an appointment because they can't get on the site. The phone number is working for a survey but you still can't get through. Not to make this political but you would think that with four years of time to prepare they would have things up and running. THAT, was not a political remark, just my opinion. What a mess.

[Moderator]

The actual call center # is 1-800-318-2596

A previous poster had cited the phone number using a set of letter combinations that rendered a crude phrase. That post was deleted.

[logdog]

The actual call center # is 1-800-318-2596

A previous poster had cited the phone number using a set of letter combinations that rendered a crude phrase. That post was deleted.

It was a crude phrase and I'm sorry it offended anyone. However, it was accurate. See: snopes.com: Obamacare National Call Center (http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/phone.asp)

[blueash]

I have managed to get a logon name and password and enter my basic data. This then results in an email being sent to the email address I provided which directs me to log in to see my options. I have not been able to log in due to high traffic. Apparently millions of Americans are trying to sign up and it has overwhelmed the servers. I was able to get a response via the chat option where I asked about my inability to log in. The chatter told me the failure was a system overload problem and perhaps I should try very early morning or late evening when there is less traffic.

[rn1tv]

I, too, have tried numerous times since day one. Have gotten as far as the security questions but then get a message that the answers are not to format or cannot handle the request at that time. Very disappointing! I agree with JAV0108, with 4 years to prepare, should have taken off without a hitch.

[billethkid]

the numbers do form an array of letters and the message is in the eye of the beholder.....

on another note as I have mentioned in another thread it would be nice to hear from ANYBODY that makes it through and signs up or not.

What was your experience?
Were you pleased with the end result?
Would you recommend it to a loved one or a close friend or one in the same?

btk

[janmcn]

It was a crude phrase and I'm sorry it offended anyone. However, it was accurate. See: snopes.com: Obamacare National Call Center (http://www.snopes.com/politics/medical/phone.asp)


Be patient. You will be able to log in sooner or later. The newspaper said they are receiving five times as many calls as they anticipated, and they anticipated 250,000 per hour. Stay calm. Everybody has until Dec 15 to register for coverage starting Jan 1, 2014.

[rn1tv]

The reason they are getting 5 times more calls than anticipated is due to system problems and crashes. If I and many others could have gotten through on the 1st try, the numbers would be greatly reduced.

[l2ridehd]

I must have missed something. If I already have Medicare A and B, and a medigap plan that includes a prescription drug option, why do I need to log into this site? I believe I read someplace that I don't need to do anything.

[Kahuna32162]

Like others, I have spent hours trying, with varying degrees of success, to use the Healthcare.gov site. I have never been able to complete the entire process, but will keep trying. In the meantime, Doing some internet research, found Florida Blue with a wide range of packages starting Jan 1, 2014. There are all 4 categories to choose from with various levels of deductibles and co-pays. Unfortunately we fall into that part of the population without employer or pension backed healthcare and too young for Medicare.

[graciegirl]

I must have missed something. If I already have Medicare A and B, and a medigap plan that includes a prescription drug option, why do I need to log into this site? I believe I read someplace that I don't need to do anything.


I can't see why I would need to log on either for the same reasons. Our paid for insurance covers us.

Happy Birthday, Chris.

[Polar Bear]

I'm not 100% sure, but if you have insurance I don't think you need to log on at all.

It's there for those without insurance or for those who'd like to shop for something different, because you must have insurance under Obamacare or face penalty fines. (Aka "taxes" per the Supreme Court...heheh.)

[jaringg]

[QUOTE=graciegirl;760165]I can't see why I would need to log on either for the same reasons. Our paid for insurance covers us.

Many plans are not approved!

[njbchbum]

I must have missed something. If I already have Medicare A and B, and a medigap plan that includes a prescription drug option, why do I need to log into this site? I believe I read someplace that I don't need to do anything.

I have the same and am not changing a thing! there is no need to!

[billethkid]

it is for the uninsured.

There is no need for anybody with paid for insurance to register for aything.

I am sure there are some number that try because they are not sure. And there has to be a number that are curious so they try as well ....at least to the point where too much personal information is needed.

And unlike many things designed to be purchased on line with the ability to compare shop before one buys....ALL the personal information is required PRIOR to even being aware of what is available....hence if one chooses to not buy in....all your persoal information is of record. Now why would the system be designed contrary to usual interenet shopping schemes?
It certainly was not unintentional!!

btk

[ilovetv]

it is for the uninsured.

There is no need for anybody with paid for insurance to register for aything.

I am sure there are some number that try because they are not sure. And there has to be a number that are curious so they try as well ....at least to the point where too much personal information is needed.

And unlike many things designed to be purchased on line with the ability to compare shop before one buys....ALL the personal information is required PRIOR to even being aware of what is available....hence if one chooses to not buy in....all your persoal information is of record. Now why would the system be designed contrary to usual interenet shopping schemes?
It certainly was not unintentional!!
btk

It will help the IRS with assigning the penalty/fine to people who do not have coverage because they can't afford the newly increased premiums on their existing plan, and they don't qualify for subsidies, so they go without insurance and join the ranks of the uninsured.

[sailor47]

This thread is not for you if you already are on Medicare or have a pension funded or some other funded health care insurance that can transfer to Florida.

In our case one of us is still purchasing Health Insurance, not 65 yet. We have been purchasing our own policy for 15 years since we retired. Once you have insurance the company cannot cancel you policy as long as you make the premiums. However, we could not transfer our Anthem BC/BS policy from our home state of Kentucky to Florida because the companies use a loop hole to refuse you insurance due to pre-existing conditions. BC/BS is registered as a different company from state to state. We missed that detail when we purchased our TV home in 09. So we maintain two homes and live a bulk of the year in Kentucky which is our residence of record.

Now we have the opportunity to buy insurance in Florida due to the affordable care act. Then we can move here full time and sell our property in Kentucky.

So that's why we are so anxious to see if this site ever gets off the ground and to determine what will be available.

By the way I was 10 pounds over weight and have taken High Blood pressure medication to maintain a near perfect pressure. That was grounds for BC/BS of Florida to refuse me coverage. No other health issues.

Hope this all works out before the first of the year, otherwise we will be stuck in Kentucky another year just to maintain health insurance.

[janmcn]

This thread is not for you if you already are on Medicare or have a pension funded or some other funded health care insurance that can transfer to Florida.

In our case one of us is still purchasing Health Insurance, not 65 yet. We have been purchasing our own policy for 15 years since we retired. Once you have insurance the company cannot cancel you policy as long as you make the premiums. However, we could not transfer our Anthem BC/BS policy from our home state of Kentucky to Florida because the companies use a loop hole to refuse you insurance due to pre-existing conditions. BC/BS is registered as a different company from state to state. We missed that detail when we purchased our TV home in 09. So we maintain two homes and live a bulk of the year in Kentucky which is our residence of record.

Now we have the opportunity to buy insurance in Florida due to the affordable care act. Then we can move here full time and sell our property in Kentucky.

So that's why we are so anxious to see if this site ever gets off the ground and to determine what will be available.

By the way I was 10 pounds over weight and have taken High Blood pressure medication to maintain a near perfect pressure. That was grounds for BC/BS of Florida to refuse me coverage. No other health issues.

Hope this all works out before the first of the year, otherwise we will be stuck in Kentucky another year just to maintain health insurance.


People are having an easy time signing up for affordable health care in states that set up their own websites. Florida is not one of those states. Governor Scott elected to have the federal government set up and run the website for Floridians.

[TexaninVA]

The reason they are getting 5 times more calls than anticipated is due to system problems and crashes. If I and many others could have gotten through on the 1st try, the numbers would be greatly reduced.

From an IT technical perspective, your comment is correct. The system has some type of internal design flaw that may be readily fixable ... we'll find out. But, when people get locked out they try again and this does in fact create an artificially high volume load when then loops the system.

Again, from a purely IT technical perspective, the people (ie contractors no doubt) who designed the site were incompetent. The same would go for the govvie COTR's who supposedly supervised the work.

[billethkid]

People are having an easy time signing up for affordable health care in states that set up their own websites. Florida is not one of those states. Governor Scott elected to have the federal government set up and run the website for Floridians.

certainly a no mystery message in that statement.
And this is only the beginning of a very long implementation/administration of this program.

The real party begins 1/1/2014.

btk

[samhass]

I must have missed something. If I already have Medicare A and B, and a medigap plan that includes a prescription drug option, why do I need to log into this site? I believe I read someplace that I don't need to do anything.

I don't think you need to log on at all. I will try to log on in a few weeks because I am not yet old enough for Medicare. I buy an individual BC/BS plan and am not part of any group. I hope to find less expensive insurance.

[Bay Kid]

What could we expect from any government project? Scary.

[DEWRDW]

has any signed up for this medicare advantage plan?

[DaleMN]

certainly a no mystery message in that statement.
And this is only the beginning of a very long implementation/administration of this program.

The real party begins 1/1/2014.

btk

And a great party it will be. :wave:

[kittygilchrist]

I tried the site today....after taking my application, the screen says, "your account cannot be created. the system is unavailable..."
then there's a TRY AGAIN button...
really?

[graciegirl]

And a great party it will be. :wave:


Why?

[l2ridehd]

What is interesting is the budget for this site was $94 million. The most expensive web site ever created. Actually turned out to be $634 million. The most expensive by 21 fold. And it doesn't work. Sure hope they do better with the delivery cost projections.

John Mcafee, the founder of Mcafee security systems says this web site is porous with security holes, and yet you have to put so much sensitive information into it. He also says his company could have built the government and each state site for under a $1000 each and they would be secure. Volume would have caused a significantly more expensive server implementation, but the basic site cost should have been minimal. He says we will see millions of fraud and identity theft cases as a result of this terrible web site design.

And now we will entrust 1/6 of our economy to the government that can't even build (or have built for them) a simple web site and make it secure.

Before you put all of your secure information into this system, go online and freeze all three credit reporting agencies. Might save you future problems if he is even half right.

[graciegirl]

I am so afraid you are right. If only all of the kind hearts who want to take care of the sick and fragile and injured would know that the mean, and stealthy and bad will take a good share of the money set aside for the truly needy.

When ever there is a budget for anything that the government establishes, even if it is not needed, the people in charge of it will use the money for stuff that is not used even, so the money will be there next year..... Ask anyone who has worked with government contracts.

And people are coming into this country and living off of us.

I didn't believe this myself until in our nice upscale area of West Chester, Ohio I kept standing in line in back of a lot of "new citizens" healthy looking ones with little kids and waiting while they used their vouchers.

We have GOT to stop the lawyers who advertise on television who get disability benefits for people who are not disabled. We have got to stop food stamps being used for cigarettes. We have got to stop taking care of people who CAN take care of themselves. Or we are gonna be in even a bigger financial mess.

We have to be like a good mother. And use some tough love. The goodness in our hearts, translated into some government programs is wildly abused.:Screen_of_Death:

[ilovetv]

People are having an easy time signing up for affordable health care in states that set up their own websites. Florida is not one of those states. Governor Scott elected to have the federal government set up and run the website for Floridians.

HONOLULU — Hawaii’s health insurance marketplace is hoping to turn around a stalled start by providing plans and pricing to consumers by Oct. 15 — but there are no guarantees, its executive director said Wednesday......

.....The insurance exchange — a key component of President Barack Obama’s federal health care overhaul — hasn’t been able to sell any insurance in Hawaii because of problems with the software at the heart of the marketplace. Consumers can’t see plans, even though a variety of options from two insurers have been approved to be sold by the state’s insurance division.

The problems have meant consumers can only submit basic information using a web form, with the promise they’ll be contacted in a few weeks. As a workaround, some people are going directly to insurance companies to find out about plans, even though buying plans from insurance companies directly means consumers won’t be able to get tax subsidies or other help they might qualify for.

Andrews said the exchange is required by statute to have its insurance providers validate how rates and plans are presented to consumers before they’re rolled out publicly.....

....Andrews’ comments came at the start of an informational hearing to discuss implementation of the federal overhaul, a law Hawaii has embraced. Hawaii was the first state to announce its intention to run its own insurance exchange, and the Hawaii Health Connector was established in August 2011.

The connector is funded through federal grants, with plans to become self-sufficient by 2015 by charging customers a 2 percent fee on plans sold through the exchange, Andrews said.

The exchange awarded a $53 million, four-year contract to CGI Group, Inc., earlier this year to build the marketplace."

Hawaii Relaunching Obamacare Exchange After Not Selling Any Health Insurance Due To Software Problems « CBS DC (http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/10/10/hawaii-relaunching-obamacare-exchange-after-not-selling-any-health-insurance-due-to-software-problems/)

[Bruiser1]

What is interesting is the budget for this site was $94 million. The most expensive web site ever created. Actually turned out to be $634 million. The most expensive by 21 fold. And it doesn't work. Sure hope they do better with the delivery cost projections.

John Mcafee, the founder of Mcafee security systems says this web site is porous with security holes, and yet you have to put so much sensitive information into it. He also says his company could have built the government and each state site for under a $1000 each and they would be secure. Volume would have caused a significantly more expensive server implementation, but the basic site cost should have been minimal. He says we will see millions of fraud and identity theft cases as a result of this terrible web site design.

And now we will entrust 1/6 of our economy to the government that can't even build (or have built for them) a simple web site and make it secure.

Before you put all of your secure information into this system, go online and freeze all three credit reporting agencies. Might save you future problems if he is even half right.

And it will handle 70,000 entry's that should do the trick . What are there like a Million people in the US.:a20:

[janmcn]

What is interesting is the budget for this site was $94 million. The most expensive web site ever created. Actually turned out to be $634 million. The most expensive by 21 fold. And it doesn't work. Sure hope they do better with the delivery cost projections.

John Mcafee, the founder of Mcafee security systems says this web site is porous with security holes, and yet you have to put so much sensitive information into it. He also says his company could have built the government and each state site for under a $1000 each and they would be secure. Volume would have caused a significantly more expensive server implementation, but the basic site cost should have been minimal. He says we will see millions of fraud and identity theft cases as a result of this terrible web site design.

And now we will entrust 1/6 of our economy to the government that can't even build (or have built for them) a simple web site and make it secure.

Before you put all of your secure information into this system, go online and freeze all three credit reporting agencies. Might save you future problems if he is even half right.



If what you say is true, then people should be very wary of signing up for Medicare. Medicare has a much larger database than the Affordable Care Act and is a government-run website. The only difference is Medicare is single-payer socialized medicine while the ACA gives people the chance to shop on the open market.

[billethkid]

just wait and see what surprises no body knows about that come into play 1/1/2014 when it goes into effect.

The poor execution of what was supposed to be ready 10/1/2013 is a stalled effort. A couple of years in the making....known issues including aimed at too small a market....was allowed to get a go signal for October 1, 2013......to make a date.....READY OR NOT!!!

Get ready for the other shoes to drop.

btk

[graciegirl]

If what you say is true, then people should be very wary of signing up for Medicare. Medicare has a much larger database than the Affordable Care Act and is a government-run website. The only difference is Medicare is single-payer socialized medicine while the ACA gives people the chance to shop on the open market.

What he says is true. And I would vote for HIM to run anything in a New York second. If I DID New York seconds which I don't.

I would vote for him in any old considered Ohio minute.

[l2ridehd]

If what you say is true, then people should be very wary of signing up for Medicare. Medicare has a much larger database than the Affordable Care Act and is a government-run website. The only difference is Medicare is single-payer socialized medicine while the ACA gives people the chance to shop on the open market.

What does signing up for Medicare have to do with the ACA web site??? Medicare started in 1965, long before the internet was available. It migrated services to the web over a 7 year time period. Basically did it one feature at a time. So it had the time to correct issues, remain secure, and be tested before implementation. Also the internet use for Medicare grew very slowly over a 12 year time window.

So very sorry, I don't understand the analogy at all.

[janmcn]

What does signing up for Medicare have to do with the ACA web site??? Medicare started in 1965, long before the internet was available. It migrated services to the web over a 7 year time period. Basically did it one feature at a time. So it had the time to correct issues, remain secure, and be tested before implementation. Also the internet use for Medicare grew very slowly over a 12 year time window.

So very sorry, I don't understand the analogy at all.


You are correct that Medicare has been around for almost 50 years, compared with 11 days for the Affordable Care Act, so perhaps we should give the ACA more time to work the bugs out.

[graciegirl]

It will get to working, kinda. And then our taxes will go up to close to half our income, just like in Austria.

And we will have to wait for quite a spell for a specialist, just like in Holland.

[ilovetv]

You are correct that Medicare has been around for almost 50 years, compared with 11 days for the Affordable Care Act, so perhaps we should give the ACA more time to work the bugs out.

Wrong. ACA was signed into law in 2010 and the first exchange was set up in 2011.

"Hawaii was the first state to announce its intention to run its own insurance exchange, and the Hawaii Health Connector was established in August 2011." (source linked in prior post above)

If Congress and administration had any sense, they would have contracted with Citibank, American Express, or some other such giant financial institution that already operates worldwide online networks to do the IT work for ACA online.

And by the way, no bank, investment firm or stock exchange would be allowed by federal/state banking regulators to put such a rickety monstrosity of a web network out there online for consumers. It would be shut down by government regulators, and fast, for CONSUMER PROTECTION.