Administration Claims Victory, but Website Still Not Functioning
Administration Claims Victory, but Website Still Not Functioning
Millions Continue to Lose Out Under Health Care Law
(Washington, D.C.) – While the team charged with repairing the website for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, says they have "met the goal," the website is still not working reliably and leaving visitors with error messages. These disappointing results come two months after the White House insisted on going ahead with implementation of the law despite warnings that it might fail, and six weeks after the Administration promised to bring in the "best and brightest" to fix the site. According to a spokesperson for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the success rate for the website is "in the zone of about 80 percent" for those who are prepared with all required information, including income estimates and tax records. CMS has not explained precisely what this means. And those hoping to enroll via the Spanish-language site are still waiting as that option is still not available.
Concerned that the Healthcare.gov website cannot handle significant traffic, the White House is continuing to ask people not to rush to try to purchase insurance. This is despite the fact that millions who have had their insurance canceled now have just a few weeks to find new policies in time for the start of the new year. Millions are losing insurance due to the requirements of the law, and potentially missing critical life-saving care.
Daniel Garza, Executive Director of The LIBRE Initiative released the following statement:
"The Administration is prematurely declaring victory on a website that has cost the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and which continues to fail many of the people who are relying on it. The truth is, those who are able to review plans are finding that premiums and deductibles are higher, not lower, as promised. Millions are also learning that doctor and hospital choices are being limited. Even the President's recent request to reinstate millions of plans that had been canceled by his health care law turns out to be a false hope for most people, as states and insurers found it impossible to renew old plans after the law took effect.
These half measures are too little, too late. It is time to acknowledge the serious problems brought on by a law that is not working as promised. It's time for accountability."
Learn more about "The Accountability Project" campaign and LIBRE's efforts to keep elected officials accountable for supporting the flawed Obamacare law that is causing families everywhere to lose their current health care plan and lose their full time jobs. They are elected to make the right decisions for the people – let's keep them accountable.
For interviews with a LIBRE representative, please contact: Judy Pino, 202-578-6424 or Brian Faughnan, 571-257-3309.