Healthcare.gov: You can't fix stupid....

[Junkdrawer]

Sorry, but every, and I mean EVERY indication is that Healthcare.gov is a heaping pile of very bad code and piss poor system's design.

It needs to be REDONE. That will take time. And Money. And the more time they spend trying to FIX it, the longer it will take and the more expensive it will be.

Honest.

[cvoogt]

1. It actually works great

until it doesn't, and then it really, really sucks. I tried, and I keep getting stuck in an endless loop with it telling me my application is incomplete, but not telling me what it is that I need to complete.

[Shivering Jemmy]

2. As I've noted on other threads

I have had a great experience.

I think there is a core of functionality there. I don't know that a complete redesign is necessary.

[matt819]

5. And that's the weirdest thing

It does seem to work for some people, maybe even millions of people. But when it doesn't, and provides no further guidance, it's damned frustrating. It's like there are multiple systems that one can access, by chance, and some work, and some don't.

[Shivering Jemmy]

6. Yeah as a coder that baffles me too

[matt819]

3. Have to agree with you

I've been unable to get in there since Oct 1.

I created an account but missed the e-mail with the link to verify, so that account died on the vine. I tried to reset password (I forgot it - or maybe not - I use a few "regular" passwords and none of these worked and I assumed it was my fault.) In any case, I never got an e-mail with the reset password link. I've called twice now. Very nice people, but very unable to help. I keep getting told to try at off-peak times. I tried this at midnight last night. No go.

I create a user name and pw and then I'm told I can't create my account right now.

So I try later, using all the same info, and I'm told that user name is already taken. Yes. by me. But since they didn't allow me to create my account, I can't log in, even though my user name is now in the system. What would they call this? Ghost data?

I checked the plans, and I think I'll save close to $7,000 a year, so I'm eager to get into the system. But it is truly screwed up. As junkdrawer says, pile of lousy code, and I think tremendously underestimated server demand. It would be nice if a tech company stepped up to the plate and offered its services gratis to fix the problems.

[enlightenment]

4. My state exchange is apparently just as bad

Today I finally got past the registration page and a page verifying my identity by asking those questions like "in which city did you live at Main St" . . .

Then it took me to a page where it informed me that because I am 19 or younger, I am required to purchase pediatric dental coverage.

And wouldn't let me even look at the health plans.

Tried logging out and back in and it started from scratch . . . ending up at the pediatric dental plans.

I'm not 19 or younger. Really.

I gave up and sent them an email asking when they were going to get their hot mess fixed.

*as a point of interest, I discovered that you can't use vulgar words in your password. After the fourth attempt to register, I got angry and created a password that was - well - very rude. It was technically correct - more than 8 characters with upper and lower case letters, digits, and special characters . . .

After I did that and it didn't work (though it did make me feel better) I tried yet another log in name and password and it finally took that.

[Whisp]

7. *snort.

[frazzled]

8. They have fixed a big thing: you can go just to window shop now

No need to register first or prove ID. With a proviso, however: although you can compare plans, you will only get an idea of cost; and you won't know your subsidy until you register (but there's a place to estimate it). This should help to ease up on the traffic a lot.

A common critique of the federal Obamacare health insurance marketplace has been that people aren't able to look at their coverage options without completing a cumbersome and glitchy application that's left many consumers stranded. If you want to encourage people to sign up, the critics have said, make it as easy as possible for them to see what their choices are and what they'll pay -- before they have to go through the entire application process.

Well, that's been fixed.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services added Thursday a premium estimation tool to the marketplace's website. By answering a few questions -- What kind of coverage are you looking for? How many people are you buying for? -- consumers can see specific plans available in their area and an estimated monthly premium.

This is just basic information -- and users still need to complete the application to receive official prices -- but it addresses a significant concern from the marketplace's bumpy rollout.

...

As the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, the in-depth application that users had to fill out to even see their plan options appears to be one of the primary sources of the marketplace's technical troubles. That's why allowing window shopping has been a change that Obamacare watchers -- including former HHS officials -- have been advocating for.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/now-you-can-go-window-shopping-for-obamacare-coverage

[Hoyt]

9. I used that yesterday. Worked great. Could look at all the plans, premiums, etc.

I would think most folks would want to do that first. See what's available, think about which one is best, then apply.

I did have to search for the plan details to see if there were copays for physician visits, so that deductibles weren't an issue for doc visits, etc. Hopefully in the future, one can click on the summary with premiums and go straight to details.

Someone reminded us yesterday how messy it was to sign up for Medicare Part D in 2005.

[bhikkhu]

10. Yet they will fix it

Not that I know how myself, but plenty of piss-poor websites wind up being improved and functional, as there are very smart people working on solving the problems. I would have very much liked to see a stellar roll-out myself, but those are few and far between. I listen at work to the jeers of "government can't do anything right" and so forth, listing stories of failure. Failures make the news, but when things are done right they are taken for granted.

I'd guess in a couple of weeks we won't hear much about how badly healthcare.gov works anymore, and it will be as smooth and easy as FAFSA, or filing taxes. Which is to say - not especially smooth and easy, but predictable and necessary, and you just get through it and get on with things.