Consumer Reports gives thumbs up to Healthcare.gov

[meegbear]

Source: CrooksandLiars.com

Back in October right wing pundits of all shapes and sizes, most notably Sean Hannity on Fox News, was crowing that Consumer Reports had thrown in the towel on Obamacare, fed up with an unworkable website. And while that part was a lie, they did advise waiting a month or so while the website was fixed. Today though they're singing a completely different tune, calling the new site at HealthCare.gov "terrific".

via Mediaite:

After advising consumers to steer clear of Healthcare.gov in October, Consumer Reports health care expert Nancy Metcalf told MSNBC’s Chuck Todd Tuesday morning that the federal health care exchange website was improved enough following the Obama administration’s frantic month of repairs that users could confidently use it. […]

“Now we’re saying, ‘it’s time,’” Metcalf said, in particular praising the new window-shopping function, in which users can peruse health plans without registering with the site. The requirement to make an account before viewing options was considered one of the main causes for the site’s initial traffic bottleneck. “It’s terrific, I’ve tried it, it was working yesterday through the busiest times,” Metcalf said.

Read more: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/scarce/consumer-reports-gives-thumbs-healthcaregov

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You can see the MSNBC interview by clicking the link above.

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Good News

I am not impressed that consumer reports is now somehow an expert on websites and design. I would like to hear what they think about the health plans that are offered. Comparing them and rating them so consumers can make informed decisions.

It's a bit like consumer reports suddenly reviewing car showrooms or retail stores and not the products inside them. That it's safe to shop without the store collapsing on your head is a no brainer and taken for granted. It's the products inside that we should be hearing from them about.

Not that they rate health plans or insurance products, do they?

That they lend their brand to the cause is admirable but I'm not sure it means much when you look deeply.

[Dopers_Greed]

2. Consumer Reports

is just part of the "liberal media"

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Consumers Reports might be considered liberal.

It's not owned by a private corporation and comes from the union movement.

Consumers Union's predecessor, Consumers' Research, was founded in 1926. In 1936, Consumers Union was founded by Arthur Kallet, Colston Warne, and others who felt that the established Consumers' Research organization was not aggressive enough. Kallet, an engineer and director of Consumers' Research, had a falling out with F.J. Schlink and started his own organization with Amherst College economics professor Colston Warne. In part due to actions of Consumers' Research, the House Un-American Activities Committee placed Consumers Union on a list of subversive organizations, only to remove it in 1954.

Prominent consumer advocate Ralph Nader was on the board of directors, but left in 1975 due to a "division of philosophy" with new Executive Director Rhoda Karpatkin. Nader wanted Consumers Union to focus on policy and product advocacy, while Karpatkin focused on product testing. Karpatkin was appointed Executive Directory in 1974 and retired as President in the early 2000s.
Consumers Union has helped start several consumer groups and publications, in 1960 helping create global consumer group Consumers International and in 1974 providing financial assistance to Consumers' Checkbook which is considered akin to Consumer Reports for local services in the seven metropolitan areas they serve.

At the start of 2009, Consumers Union acquired The Consumerist blog from Gawker Media for approximately $600,000.

In 2012 the publishing organization began doing business as "Consumer Reports", which is also the name of the magazine published by the organization. The reason for the name change was that the name "Consumer Reports" was more familiar to the public than the name "Consumers Union". The name "Consumers Union" became reserved for the subsection of the organization which participates in political advocacy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumers_Union

I like your username and welcome to/back du...

[procon]

4. This is a good endorsement

Like it or not, many people trust CR and their puffs and pans often determine the fate of products. Coincidently, all my rightwing relatives subscribe to CR, and use their reviews to make purchasing decisions.

I'm curious how they will react to seeing their preferred, go-to source turn into a socialist-loving tool of the far left. LOL

[Jesus Malverde]

5. Lets remember the exchange is not the product.

The products are the insurance plans and ultimately the delivery of health care. That we're excited about people being able to shop for insurance is less a victory than a correction of something that should have worked.

I think we need to wait 1-2 years to see if this is a success. Right around 2016, I hope it does.

[Berlum]

6. America and Americans rejoice at the good news

Republicons whine and pout, plotting new ways to obstruct, interfere, and denigrate.