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Health Care Blog

  • Doing Better: Making Improvements to HealthCare.gov

    Posted by lholst on October 21, 2013 at 9:39 AM EST

    On Sunday, the Department of Health and Human Services provided an update on the state of HealthCare.gov, addressing initial issues with the site and explaining its improvements. The following is crossposted from HHS.gov.

    Read the original post here.

    Over the past two and a half weeks, millions of Americans visited HealthCare.gov to look at their new health care options under the Affordable Care Act. In that time, nearly half a million applications for coverage have been submitted from across the nation. This tremendous interest – with over 19 million unique visits to date to HealthCare.gov– confirms that the American people are looking for quality, affordable health coverage, and want to find it online.

    Unfortunately, the experience on HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many Americans. Some have had trouble creating accounts and logging in to the site, while others have received confusing error messages, or had to wait for slow page loads or forms that failed to respond in a timely fashion. The initial consumer experience of HealthCare.gov has not lived up to the expectations of the American people. We are committed to doing better.

    Aside from the difficulties since launching the site, there are parts of the overall system that have proved up to the task. The “Data Hub,” component, which provides HealthCare.gov with information that aids in determining eligibility for qualified health plans, is working. Individuals have been able to verify their eligibility for credits, enabling them to shop for and enroll in low or even no-cost health plans.

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  • Americans Are Enrolling Through HealthCare.gov

    Posted by Ashleigh Smith on October 2, 2013 at 4:30 PM EST

    Yesterday, the new Health Insurance Marketplaces opened for business as part of the Affordable Care Act. During the first 24 hours of open enrollment, there was overwhelming interest, as 4.7 million people visited HealthCare.gov. And by Wednesday afternoon, more than 6.1 people had visited the site.

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  • What Does the Health Insurance Marketplace Mean for You?

    Posted by Kasie Coccaro on October 1, 2013 at 9:40 AM EST


    We're Open

    Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. You can see the original post here.

    Today the Health Insurance Marketplace opened for business, creating a new and better way for Americans to shop for insurance. At the Marketplace, you can compare options, see if you qualify for lower costs, and select coverage that will begin as soon as January 1, 2014. You can compare private plans and choose coverage that fit your needs and budget.

    Visit HealthCare.gov to shop for options today.

    Over the next two weeks, we are going to be highlighting the stories of individual Americans who will benefit from the law.

    Like Malik. Malik is an uninsured bartender in Philadelphia. He hurt his leg pretty badly and worked through the pain because he didn’t have insurance and couldn’t afford to see a doctor. He is young and healthy, and now he knows he’s not invincible. No one should have to work through an injury, and Malik is looking forward to finding affordable coverage through the Marketplace.

    See Malik’s story here.

    To get started, finding a health plan that fits your budget, visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596 (TTY 1-855-889-4325) to get started. To make the process even easier, every member of our call center staff has been trained to help answer your questions about applying. And if you need extra help, you can click here to find out if there is a real person right in your community to help.

    Today marks an important step in fullfilling the promise of quality, affordable health insurance for millions of hard-working Americans. We are going to feature just a few of them. Help us share their story and share your own.

    Click here to read the stories.

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  • Moms Champions

    Posted by Kathleen Sebelius on September 30, 2013 at 7:10 PM EST

    Ed. Note: This blog is cross-posted from The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

    Do you remember?  For many of us, mom was the first—and best—health care provider we ever had.  Cleaning off a scraped knee or filling a prescription for chicken soup, mom played a vital role in our early health. Her love and attention showed us that health care was better when it was delivered with compassion. 

    Mom was always there for us and it’s something we never forget. 

    As children get older, a mother’s role changes.  No longer magically wielding thermometers or gently pulling off Band-Aids with the utmost care, a mom becomes a vital source for advice. Kids – young and old – trust mom to tell it like it is.

    As the mom of two grown boys, I know the immeasurable value of a mother’s voice. I know the feeling of wanting to help kids stay safe and healthy.

    That’s why helping moms learn about health care options for their kids is one of my top priorities.

    I want to make sure moms across the country understand the new opportunities for their families as we approach the beginning of open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

    Starting tomorrow, and continuing through March 2014, Americans that lack access to affordable coverage will be able to apply, compare plans, and enroll in the Marketplace, with  coverage beginning as early as January 1, 2014.

    These plans will cover essential services like maternity care, hospitalizations, doctor’s visits, and prescription drugs.  These plans also cap out-of-pocket costs, can’t place an annual limit on coverage, and can’t charge you more because you’re a woman or have a pre-existing condition.

    And for nearly 6 in 10 of the uninsured Americans, coverage will be available for $100 or less per month.

    The good news is that we’re not alone in trying to get the word out. Programs like text4baby, and organizations like MomsRising, and the What to Expect Foundation are committed to joining us as we begin to educate moms about the Marketplace.  We’re calling these organizations “Champions for Coverage.”

    Champions for Coverage are local businesses, organizations, bloggers, community health centers, hospitals, and faith communities. They will use publicly available materials – both digital and in print – to help members of their communities understand their new options through the Marketplace.

    I want to send my sincerest thanks to organizations like these. We always knew we couldn’t do this important work alone.

    For millions of Americans, better health care options are on the way – as long as they know to sign up.

    In Case You Missed It: View a full recap of the HealthCare.gov, Moms Rising, and text4baby #GetCovered Twitter chat .

    To see the list of Champions for Coverage visit: http://marketplace.cms.gov/help-us/champion.html.

    Learn more about the Marketplace and how to get ready to enroll at HealthCare.gov or call the Health Insurance Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325).

    Kathleen Sebelius is the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

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  • Applying for Health Insurance Just Got Easier

    Posted by Ezra Mechaber on September 29, 2013 at 3:57 PM EST

    On October 1, millions of Americans will have a simple new way to get affordable health coverage: the Health Insurance Marketplace.  

    With one application, you'll be able to compare all your coverage options side-by-side, learn if you can get lower costs based on your income, and enroll in a plan that fits your needs and your budget.

    In fact, the new application is so simple, it's 17 pages shorter than the current application you'd fill out to enroll in coverage in the individual market. 

    Visit HealthCare.gov now and learn how to sign up starting on October 1.

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  • Weekly Address: Averting a Government Shutdown and Expanding Access to Affordable Healthcare

    Posted by Megan Slack on September 28, 2013 at 5:00 AM EST

    In this week’s address, President Obama says that on October 1st, a big part of the Affordable Care Act will go live and give uninsured Americans the chance to buy the same quality, affordable health care as everyone else. It is also the day when some Republicans in Congress might shut down the government just because they don’t like the law. The President urged Congress to both pass a budget by Monday and raise the nation’s debt ceiling so that we can keep growing the economy. He also said that those without health insurance and those who buy it on the individual market should visit HealthCare.gov to find out how to get covered on Tuesday.

    Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3

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