Glitches in State Exchanges Give G.O.P. a Cudgel

[alp227]

WASHINGTON — With the federal online insurance exchange running more smoothly than ever, the biggest laggards in fixing enrollment problems are now state-run exchanges in several states where the governors and legislative leaders have been among the strongest supporters of President Obama’s health care law.

Republicans have seized on the failures of homegrown exchanges in states like Maryland, Minnesota and Oregon — all plagued by technological problems that have kept customers unhappy and enrollment goals unmet — and promise to use the issue against Democratic candidates for governor and legislative seats this fall.

“People see incompetence when they look at this,” said Michael Short, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee. “Everyone that’s associated with it is going to have to deal with the consequences of this terrible law, including the state legislators who created these exchanges and the governors in charge of running them.”

Last month, the Republican National Committee filed public-records requests in Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Oregon seeking information about compensation and vacation time for the exchange directors, four of whom have resigned. All five states have Democratic governors whose terms end this year. Three of them — Gov. Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, Gov. Mark Dayton of Minnesota and Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon — are seeking re-election.

In Maryland, the turmoil around the state-run exchange is dogging Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, a Democrat hoping to succeed Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is leaving office because of term limits. Mr. O’Malley made Mr. Brown his point person on the health care law’s rollout in Maryland, and now Mr. Brown’s opponents — both Democratic and Republican — are bludgeoning him with the state exchange’s failures.

full: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/us/politics/glitches-in-state-exchanges-give-gop-a-cudgel.html

[bhikkhu]

1. I wouldn't use Oregon as an example of failed exchanges

other than to show that exchanges themselves aren't the real goal.

I was able to shop and compare on the Oregon exchange, and to put together all the information I needed. Then I printed the application form from the site and mailed it in. Then I got my acceptance letter and, finally, health insurance. My daughter went to the optometrist two weeks ago with her new card and it was no problem. We've filled out the paperwork to set up with a local family practice and should have physicals and so forth scheduled in a week or two...whatever the shortcomings of the exchange, the insurance itself has worked perfectly for us so far.

[TheMathieu]

2. Good thing we can fire back against them with Kentucky's exchange success.

It's not the fault of the law that some of these governors are inept at implementing it.