Very high traffic numbers for http://HealthCare.gov since fix:

[Playinghardball]

igorvolsky @igorvolsky

Very high traffic numbers for http://HealthCare.gov since fix:

Monday: 1 million visits (~18,000 signed up)
Tuesday: 950,000 visits

4:38 AM - 4 Dec 2013

Found on the Obamadiary

[monmouth3]

1. My youngest son and his buddy were part of that traffic. Both decided there was nothing

"affordable" about it and left. I don't know any details but that was his statement...

[brush]

2. And you left it at that without a question?

Are these young men students? Do they work? Are you aware that your son can stay on YOUR policy until age 26 because of the ACA?

If not, and you son falls into that age category you should let him know that he can keep his coverage under your policy.

You are insured I take it?

[monmouth3]

3. They both work, are in their 50s and think the prices are too high. They will stay with their

present plans.

[brush]

6. "In their 50s" is kind of pertinent information . . .

don't you think? Your original post sounded like you were talking about youngsters — a wee bit deceptive there.

And if your middle-aged son and his middle-aged friend are working as you say, I take it they have policies from their job, and not junk policies, so there's no reason to change.

[Wounded Bear]

8. Well, pretty much the whole point of the "Obamacare" exercise.....

was choice.

[Orrex]

4. Tell your youngest son and his buddy that I call bullshit

I don't know any details, but that's my statement.

[monmouth3]

5. Well alrighty then..

[Orrex]

7. I concur with Brush

You made it sound like two kids checked out the website after blowing off their afternoon classes.

[monmouth3]

9. Maybe that's how you interpreted it. Did I state they were students? Let it go...n/t

[Orrex]

10. Maybe that's how at least two people interpreted it.

Maybe you should consider how you word things.

You referred to your "youngest son and his buddy." In casual parlance in my experience, both with people my own age and with people much older, that sort of phrasing suggests someone quite young, rather than a man well into middle age. And since a child or teenager would have no reason to price insurance on the ACA website, I inferred that he was in his 20s.

His flippant, off-hand, and non-specific dismissal of the website's offerings suggested someone with a short attention span or who can't be bothered to engage in thorough research. Again, in my experience with people my own age and with people much older, this kind of "well, fuck it" attitude is more emblematic of a younger person, especially as it pertains to health insurance. You might object that this is an "ageist" assumption on my part, but in fact the Obama administration itself has recognized that young, healthy people are less likely to make the effort to obtain insurance in the foolish belief that they don't need it. Your youngest son's careless attitude is consistent with that expectation, leading me to infer that he was much younger than he is.

You also didn't indicate that your youngest son and his buddy currently get insurance through their employers. Why not? This sloppy omission, coupled with your own admitted failure to engage him on the subject, suggests that it's a trivial matter for you as well, perhaps because he can be covered on your policy (as a student, for instance) or that he doesn't need insurance due to his youth and general health.

You could easily have avoided any misunderstanding by saying something along the lines of

My youngest son and his buddy were part of that traffic. Both are in their 50s and decided that their existing insurance is a better deal.

Short and sweet and clear and to the point.


I am happy to "Let it go," but it might be useful for you to consider that people actually tend to read what other people write and how they write it. A little clarity goes a long way toward eliminating pointless ambiguity.