[California] is on track with its health sign-ups
Source: LA Times
In contrast to lackluster results so far in the troubled federal exchange, California said it remains on track to reach its enrollment goals by having signed up 131,000 people in private health insurance or Medicaid through the state's marketplace.
California's first enrollment figures, released Wednesday, marked a rare bright spot for the Obama administration as it faces intense criticism over its error-prone enrollment website and millions of consumers getting insurance cancellation notices because their coverage doesn't meet requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
The state-run exchange, Covered California, said 59,000 residents have enrolled in private health insurance through Tuesday and 72,007 were deemed eligible last month for an expansion of Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program for the poor.
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"I think California is on the right trajectory," said Glenn Melnick, a health-policy professor at USC. "California shows people will enroll nationally if the federal exchange could solve its technology problems. This gives you a better test of the real response to the program."
Read more: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-exchange-enrollment-20131114,0,4948680.story#axzz2ka7ss2Sb
I think what is really key is that about 2,000 people have been enrolling daily this month, double the rate the exchange saw last month. So, the pace of enrollment has increased over time.
BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)That's right. State exchanges are working! States that have their own exchanges (California, Kentucky, etc.) have seen people sign up for the ACA in droves. Healthcare.gov, the woefully underfunded, overwhelmed site built by CGI because they got a no-bid 10-year contract thanks to Duhbya Bush - and they favor Republicans - is taking on people from over 30 states with Republican Gov's and Republican legislatures because they don't have access to a state site.
This isn't "lazy journalism" by our "media". This is a concerted effort to make President Obama's signature law and legacy, moot.
The one good thing is, stats are showing that younger people are seemingly unaffected by the propaganda because they're registering and voting Democratic Party. I believe that has to do with the fact that they overwhelmingly choose to get their news from the Internet and social media (FB, Twitter, Tumblr, etc) and aren't exposed (or hammered) by corporate media propaganda.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)It took me about 30-40 minutes to answer the questions.
I was approved within minutes with a substantial government subsidy.
I was offered 15 plans, ranging in price from $150 - $550/month.
They asked me a series of question to help me determine what policy would best suit my needs.
The options were clear and easy to compare.
And I now have insurance for the first time in 8 years.
Could not be happier.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)So, the back end didn't work, even though it appeared that everything went fine. I was supposed to get a bill directly from the insurer, but I didn't get it.
Now, after waiting 3 weeks for the promised bill from the insurer, I have to start over again.
It breaks my heart that neither my state or federal government can create a functional website about 5% as complex as Amazon.com. If government can't get this done, they can't solve any problems, at all. Very frustrating, to the point of despair.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I just completed it last week and haven't received a bill yet either, but I thought I just had to wait.
Not true?
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)I've read that the insurers are getting gibberish from the websites, at least some of them. Afraid that's what happened for me. (it told me I'd get a bill from Kaiser by Nov 15th)
I've also read that you are not enrolled until you receive and pay your first bill. That is why the numbers of enrollees is so puny -- we are all waiting to get and pay the first bill.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)When I did this, i signed off after looking at my options.
When I came back, it had saved all my data and I was able to just go to the options and make my choice.
I also chose Kaiser, so I hope it's not screwed up.