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Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 11:58 AM Dec 2013

9 HOURS in and Healthcare.gov still wont let me look at the actual PLANS

As they would apply to MY family. I can see the generic plans available to everyone in the STATE but anything beyond that returns an error message. 8 hours and a hundred crashes to get this far.

In my mind I am picturing millions of Americans trying to make the largely unannounced December 15th deadline and running headlong into this. It's impressively and spectacularly bad. It is a freaking marvel of fail, the cirque du Soleil of incompetence. Right now my wife is so frustrated by the experience that she is ready to drop kick her computer out the window.

So we CALLED the 800 number to get it straightened out.

To be precise, I called the 800 number while my wife sat in our darkened bedroom, crying and clutching her cat and occasionally shrieking out random ACA induced profanities.

The guy on the phone, after taking down all my information and typing it into his computer yet again, reached the exact same place the system had hung up before, and he ran into the same error message we had encountered. Good news, I thought to myself, He was able to duplicate it, he'll know what to do! My optimism was misplaced however. He informed me that he had tried hitting enter three times. This was apparently the limits of his troubleshooting skills. He politely offered to hit enter for me a few more times, but I assured him I could do this myself. I asked what I was supposed to do now, and he did not know. He said, and this is close to a quote "Yeah, it's a mess, it pretty much does this kind of thing all day. Maybe you can try back some other time, that might fix it."

Jackasses like Limbaugh or Paul Ryan say that government is the problem. It's a sentiment that I oppose, not because I don't recognize the partial truth in their words, but because I think the necessary good that government can provide is more important than the all-too-predictable incompetence and corruption.

That said, we just handed them a six-hundred million dollar example to point to.

UPDATE: SEE RESPONSE BELOW ENTITLED UPDATE



114 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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9 HOURS in and Healthcare.gov still wont let me look at the actual PLANS (Original Post) Demo_Chris Dec 2013 OP
Umm... Agschmid Dec 2013 #1
Double Umm.. pangaia Dec 2013 #3
ROFL alcibiades_mystery Dec 2013 #4
I personally loved the " sat in our darkened bedroom" Jesus Malverde Dec 2013 #38
Gawd!!! darkangel218 Dec 2013 #41
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #81
Nice touch, ain't it? Adds a certain Crawford-esque quality to the story Number23 Dec 2013 #104
This sounds suspicious brush Dec 2013 #107
What a horrible, inexcusable mess. CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2013 #2
Why would your wife sit in a darkened room crying and clutching her cat, etc. Seems a bit dramatic lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #5
Also what Dec. 15th deadline do you mean? Agschmid Dec 2013 #6
The deadline for coverage on Jan 1st. whopis01 Dec 2013 #88
You should turn the lights on in the bedroom. JaneyVee Dec 2013 #7
Yeah, at least let the woman have some light while she's shrieking & clutching. Demit Dec 2013 #15
Why? Umm.. because wether one has access to health care or not darkangel218 Dec 2013 #29
It seems you and your wife may be overreacting and a bit too dramatic, don't ya think? cleanhippie Dec 2013 #45
Me and my wife?? darkangel218 Dec 2013 #53
lolwhut? Demit Dec 2013 #47
On a website Shankapotomus Dec 2013 #8
Or maybe it would be better to use one of the alternate methods, since signing up online isn't lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #11
At first I thought Shankapotomus Dec 2013 #16
There's no time left for a paper app Yo_Mama Dec 2013 #37
or 1 hour. itsrobert Dec 2013 #12
We did exactly that... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #21
Hope you have better luck soon Shankapotomus Dec 2013 #24
You do realize there are alternative ways to sign-up other than healthcare.gov? lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #9
Here's the info at healthcare.gov ProSense Dec 2013 #18
Exactly. lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #25
Let's review those.... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #26
Did you do item 5 in the list to see what insurance companies are available in your state? lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #30
You seem to be having a problem identifying the details of specific plan options Tanuki Dec 2013 #36
can this help? DonCoquixote Dec 2013 #101
Sorry for this mess, but you have to know the deadline for registering and having Mass Dec 2013 #10
You sure about that 23rd date? Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #13
Yes. It was changed a few weeks ago. Mass Dec 2013 #17
Good deal, thanks. That is a relief. nt Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #27
Just for clarification: December 23rd is the last day to pay premiums for coverage starting 1/1/14 grantcart Dec 2013 #111
Interesting ProSense Dec 2013 #14
Yes, let's discredit the poster because he thinks government can be incompetent and corrupt. Vattel Dec 2013 #84
Well, ProSense Dec 2013 #85
So you disagree with Limbaugh when he says that goverment is often incompetent? Vattel Dec 2013 #87
I've heard that starting over with a new email address & user name Demit Dec 2013 #19
Is your modem 28k or 33k? XRubicon Dec 2013 #20
... flying rabbit Dec 2013 #22
Cool story, bro. tabasco Dec 2013 #23
Sorry you are still having trouble livetohike Dec 2013 #28
I wrote down the name of the plans and searched off the the government site. Hoyt Dec 2013 #31
Im sorry youre going through this. I hope you get through eventually darkangel218 Dec 2013 #32
Ok, this is a cartoon. gulliver Dec 2013 #33
As should dismissive Ostrich-like posts such as you offered, yet here we both are. nt Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #35
Ostrich!! gulliver Dec 2013 #40
A wave of quiet melancholy seeped from the darkened space where his one true love sobbed quietly. alcibiades_mystery Dec 2013 #46
Good one. gulliver Dec 2013 #48
Haha! That's pretty damned good. Demit Dec 2013 #49
You seem to find this OP awefully hilarious. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #54
Now that made me laugh out loud. n/t louslobbs Dec 2013 #59
Boffo rewrite! Iggo Dec 2013 #66
I don't understand your reference to "unverifiable" Jim Lane Dec 2013 #92
I've been trying since October 1st Holly_Hobby Dec 2013 #34
Then don't use the website. Use an alternative method. lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #43
I did. Holly_Hobby Dec 2013 #86
No question that is messed up. I would suspect you should get insurance cards shortly, however, lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #93
I have made over 40 phone calls to the ACA Holly_Hobby Dec 2013 #96
I guess I misunderstood, I thought you were approved, which I thought meant you had a health insurer lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #97
Yes, we're approved Holly_Hobby Dec 2013 #98
Thanks for explaining what happened to you. I appreciate it lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #99
Wow, how fantastic for you! You saved $5328 due to the ACA last year! Tanuki Dec 2013 #109
Yes, we saved a small fortune Holly_Hobby Dec 2013 #112
My wife has been trying to sign up since Oct. It has been a nightmare she hasn't been able diabeticman Dec 2013 #39
Then use an alternative method as outlined in some of the responses above. If healthcare.org is not lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #42
She has tried calling the number and they informed her that once she started the application diabeticman Dec 2013 #57
agreed you should not have to go through what you did lostincalifornia Dec 2013 #69
***UPDATE**** We got it fixed, sort of!!!! Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #44
Uh oh on the not understanding them. Sounds like more shrieking & clutching is in store. Demit Dec 2013 #50
No, I think I am getting it figured out.... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #52
That happened to me as well. One of my silver level plans was a much better deal ScreamingMeemie Dec 2013 #58
What the fuck???? darkangel218 Dec 2013 #55
It is the end of healthcare as the establishment has wanted it ... MindMover Dec 2013 #51
I see the "attack anyone who complains" brigade is all over you here. Skip Intro Dec 2013 #56
How many different ways can a person/family enroll in Obamacare ... ? MindMover Dec 2013 #72
And here you come to prove my point. Skip Intro Dec 2013 #74
When facts are stated you call it arrogant and hateful ... WOW ... MindMover Dec 2013 #80
Don't like the snyde, accusatory attitude spread by you and the like Skip Intro Dec 2013 #89
"Facts are stubborn things" .... Ronnie Raygun MindMover Dec 2013 #90
"You sound like a Republicant?" Hissyspit Dec 2013 #102
I wasn't talking to you hissy spit ...... MindMover Dec 2013 #106
By the way, pay close attention to the network of providers Skip Intro Dec 2013 #60
I had the same problem. It took me 63 days to get my application sent to the insurance company. Zorra Dec 2013 #61
Thanks! Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #65
Update on this: It turned out that the insurance company, and not Helathcare.gov, was at fault for Zorra Dec 2013 #113
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #62
Welcome to DU. darkangel218 Dec 2013 #63
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #64
I like this part of your update: "In any case, the problem there is not with the website..... curlyred Dec 2013 #67
I hate to say this but I suspect Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. might have been right ... spin Dec 2013 #68
I am very concerned about it, but so far... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #70
Good luck. I hope everything works out for you and for other people who are applying. (n/t) spin Dec 2013 #71
Interesting. We have an adult daughter with us as well, but OKNancy Dec 2013 #73
UPDATE #2 ...The plans offered do not seem to be correct Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #75
Chris, you need in-person help. They will DevonRex Dec 2013 #76
I will ave to take a look. I am giving up for now. nt Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #77
Here's the link to TX HRSA clinics that will assist you. DevonRex Dec 2013 #78
Thanks. nt Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #79
I tried to call my navigators here in AZ and left messages, and they were supposed to call me back, Zorra Dec 2013 #83
I just went in to healthcare.gov and within a minute could see the B Calm Dec 2013 #82
Possibly the worst professionally designed, major website in history. Also, the Dark n Stormy Knight Dec 2013 #91
I figured nothing could be worse than FR Sheepshank Dec 2013 #110
I don't consider Freeperville "professionally designed.' I have a master's degree in instructional Dark n Stormy Knight Jan 2014 #114
I thought the deadline was end of March, so I looked it up and I'm right magical thyme Dec 2013 #94
The current deadline is Dec 23rd ... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #95
Wow, sorry, seems like nothing works for you. XRubicon Dec 2013 #100
What are you on, dial up? B Calm Dec 2013 #108
fyi Vietnameravet Dec 2013 #103
Obamacare, because Americans deserve something more complex than Single-Payer NoOneMan Dec 2013 #105

Jesus Malverde

(10,274 posts)
38. I personally loved the " sat in our darkened bedroom"
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 01:02 PM
Dec 2013

Turn on some lights dude! Someone has a case of the winter blues.

Response to Agschmid (Reply #1)

lostincalifornia

(5,520 posts)
5. Why would your wife sit in a darkened room crying and clutching her cat, etc. Seems a bit dramatic
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:11 PM
Dec 2013

to me. Now don't get me wrong, I can appreciate you frustration, however, I would be pushing to find someone who could help me resolve the situation. The person on the phone obviously should have escalated the problem, and I would demand to talk with his supervisor.

Also, since you have to go through healthcare.gov, that implies that your state does not provide its own exchanges, which is very sad.

You can only do the best you can. You indicated a December 15th deadline, I assume that is so you can be covered by January 1st

I was informed from CoveredCa.com, which is the California exchange, that one has until December 23rd. Not sure why that is different than the national one.

Good luck

whopis01

(3,931 posts)
88. The deadline for coverage on Jan 1st.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 08:41 PM
Dec 2013

It had been December 15th but was changed to the 23rd. I am pretty sure that is what he was taking about.

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
15. Yeah, at least let the woman have some light while she's shrieking & clutching.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:23 PM
Dec 2013

Maybe it's the cat that's shrieking b/c she's clutching him too hard.

 

darkangel218

(13,985 posts)
29. Why? Umm.. because wether one has access to health care or not
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:42 PM
Dec 2013

Can mean the difference between life and death??

Grrrrrr!

cleanhippie

(19,705 posts)
45. It seems you and your wife may be overreacting and a bit too dramatic, don't ya think?
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 01:52 PM
Dec 2013

Sitting in darkens rooms, clutching the cat, screaming profanities... All because a website is malfunctioning.

Cool story, bro.

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
8. On a website
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:13 PM
Dec 2013

that is being accessed by thousands to millions of people, maybe his last advice to you was good advice. Maybe try it at 2 in the morning when traffic is low?

I don't know why you just didn't take a break and shut it down after 4 hours, let alone 8.

Shankapotomus

(4,840 posts)
16. At first I thought
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:24 PM
Dec 2013

it was going to be a tongue-in-cheek list with suggestions like "Move to Sweden." haHa...But those are perfectly good suggestions and, imagine if there was no internet as when SS was launched? It would have all been done by paper anyway.

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)
37. There's no time left for a paper app
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:57 PM
Dec 2013

And calling the help line isn't working.

I guess try at 2 AM.

They want coverage for January, and they only have about a week left to sign up for it.

 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
21. We did exactly that...
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:28 PM
Dec 2013

Took about 5 hours and numerous runs at it to get a valid account last night. LATE last night.

We got an early off-peak time start on it today. 7am on a wintry Saturday morning.

We're still going. Deleting everything and trying again, this time with new estimated numbers.

 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
26. Let's review those....
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:38 PM
Dec 2013
1. State-run exchanges If my state (Texas) has one of these I don't know how to get there.

2. Paper applications and the telephone: I am assuming that the Helpful Hotline is the one that we have already called, the one that informed us the system was broken for them too. I am not sure how downloading and mailing something in helps in this case, as the PROBLEM is that I cannot see what I am supposed to buy.

3. Navigators and other in-person assistance I need the details of the policies I am MANDATED to purchase.

4. State Medicaid offices Texas does not have expanded medicaid

5. Health insurance companies Yeah, I don't need the TEASER with average prices, I need the ACTUAL policies and numbers and fine print. The details, so I can buy it.

6. Web-based insurance brokers Hopefully I don't need to go this route.

7. Insurance agents and brokers I need to look at ALL the plans and options, not just the plans offered by any one company.

Tanuki

(16,507 posts)
36. You seem to be having a problem identifying the details of specific plan options
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:56 PM
Dec 2013

as necessary to make your choice. If so, you might want to look at this website, which I found to be extremely helpful in understanding all the pros and cons of each of my choices. Like you, I live in a state which did not create its own exchange. I do realize you are having other problems with the healthcare.gov site, but this might help with clarifying which plan is best for your family in the meantime.
http://www.valuepenguin.com/ppaca/exchanges

DonCoquixote

(13,979 posts)
101. can this help?
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 08:37 PM
Dec 2013
http://www.healthinsurance.org/texas-state-health-insurance-exchange/

of course, a large part of the problem is, like my beloved Florida (sarcasm) your governor is doing everything he can to slow down or stop the ACA, whereas a mighty powerhouse like...Kentucky, is doing fine. Not saying ACA should not have been better, but let's not forget whose shenanigans are still throwing monkey wrenches into the gears.

Mass

(27,315 posts)
10. Sorry for this mess, but you have to know the deadline for registering and having
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:17 PM
Dec 2013

your insurance start on January 1rst is December 23rd. So, it gives you a few more days to find a solution.

This said, the online registering systems are very frustrating, particularly when you have a problem as there is apparently no support for problems beyond extremely basic problems (and it is true some state sites as well).

grantcart

(53,061 posts)
111. Just for clarification: December 23rd is the last day to pay premiums for coverage starting 1/1/14
Mon Dec 16, 2013, 01:05 PM
Dec 2013

If you make a payment after that day then your insurance would become effective 2/1/14.

Also my insurance company said that they are waiving the deadline and would take debit card transactions up to the end of the month.

Good luck.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
14. Interesting
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:22 PM
Dec 2013
Jackasses like Limbaugh or Paul Ryan say that government is the problem. It's a sentiment that I oppose, not because I don't recognize the partial truth in their words, but because I think the necessary good that government can provide is more important than the all-too-predictable incompetence and corruption.

...rant.

After procrastinating for nearly seven weeks, I signed up. It took me 30 minutes.



 

Vattel

(9,289 posts)
84. Yes, let's discredit the poster because he thinks government can be incompetent and corrupt.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 07:05 PM
Dec 2013

That we deflect any implied criticism of our hero.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
85. Well,
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 07:10 PM
Dec 2013

"Yes, let's discredit the poster because he thinks government can be incompetent and corrupt. That we deflect any implied criticism of our hero."

...I tend to "discredit" any attempt to validate "Jackasses like Limbaugh or Paul Ryan."

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
19. I've heard that starting over with a new email address & user name
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:26 PM
Dec 2013

can get you out of whatever code-induced dead end you are apparently in. Try it.

 

tabasco

(22,974 posts)
23. Cool story, bro.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:33 PM
Dec 2013

Tell me more about this "all-too-predictable incompetence and corruption."

Got any examples, like Social Security or something, where private business has proven to be more competent and honest?

Health insurance companies?
Blackwater?
Corporate retirement plans?

livetohike

(24,416 posts)
28. Sorry you are still having trouble
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:39 PM
Dec 2013

Call the 1-800 number again. Ask to complete the application over the phone. They will tell you 2)whether you will receive any subsidies and b)how those subsidies affect whichever plan you choose.

How do you choose a plan? You can get this info on line. The various plans available for your state/county. You should be able to just look at it on healthcare.gov without completing the application process. Choose a couple plans. The representative will be able to go down through each line item and tell you how those numbers change based on the subsidy you receive.

I helped my neighbor through this on Thursday and we couldn't get by the income verification info. The rep at the 1-800 number finished it for us.

Ask them to help you finish this.

gulliver

(14,072 posts)
33. Ok, this is a cartoon.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:46 PM
Dec 2013

But in all seriousness, anonymous, unverifiable anti-ACA posts, even absurd creative writing fails like this one, should normally just be ignored.

 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
35. As should dismissive Ostrich-like posts such as you offered, yet here we both are. nt
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:55 PM
Dec 2013
 

alcibiades_mystery

(36,437 posts)
46. A wave of quiet melancholy seeped from the darkened space where his one true love sobbed quietly.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 01:53 PM
Dec 2013

Out in the chaos of the beast-maddened world, the sneering and sarcastic acolytes of the Magical Priest King laughed heartily at the family's pain - they blocked up their ears as if with wax at any sadness, lest the Magical Priest King be considered less glowing. They crowded about, pointing and laughing. Always pointing and laughing....

gulliver

(14,072 posts)
48. Good one.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:04 PM
Dec 2013

The man turned toward his wife.

"It's not working."

"Did you try crushing the computer?"

"Ok, honey. Put down the cat."

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
49. Haha! That's pretty damned good.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:09 PM
Dec 2013

Falls tragically short of the bathos in the OP, but I uncurled my sneering lip long enough to enjoy it

 

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)
92. I don't understand your reference to "unverifiable"
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 03:02 AM
Dec 2013

I gather that the next DUer who applies should have two witnesses (not immediate family members) in the room with him or her at the start of the process. These witnesses should note when the effort begins, when it ends, and what the results were. They should report their findings in sworn affidavits, which will be notarized. Any post complaining about any ACA difficulty must include the PDF of each affidavit, along with each witness's full name, address, telephone number, and email address, so that the reports can be verified.

Is your position that you'll ignore any post that doesn't meet these requirements?

The serious point is that, in the context of an internet message board, "unverifiable" is a fairly odd criticism. I for one am prepared to believe that someone like Demo Chris, with more than 4,000 posts, is not a Limbaughite who's put that much effort into setting up a DU persona just to pave the way for lying about Healthcare.gov problems. I'm especially prepared to believe it when this admittedly "unverifiable" account is completely consistent with what many other people have reported.

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)
34. I've been trying since October 1st
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 12:54 PM
Dec 2013

You would not believe what I've gone through with the ACA website. I'm not going into the entire story here, I'd type my fingers to the bone. I'm just grateful we already have insurance, because my issues on that website won't be solved for a very long time.

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)
86. I did.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 07:13 PM
Dec 2013

I completed a paper application, and they approved it, but I don't have that in writing, only a verybal approval. There is no way to look at the plans because I can't log in to our account. The only "helpers" here are from a new insurance company, and they refuse to show me plans from other companies. My doctor is not accepting new insurance companies. So I've seen exactly 3 plans, which do not meet our needs.

For $768/month presently, we get a $400 deductible, $2,000 out of pocket, $20 doctor co-pays, $10 drugs, and dental and vision. I doubt the ACA can beat that anyway. I sure don't want to save $150/month on premiums and have a $6,350 deductible. That would be dumb.

lostincalifornia

(5,520 posts)
93. No question that is messed up. I would suspect you should get insurance cards shortly, however,
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 11:10 AM
Dec 2013

isn't there a phone number you can call? You indicated you completed a paper application that was approved verbally.

That has to be associated with an insurance company, and that insurance company should have a phone number where you could call
and try to find out how you can get a written confirmation I would think

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)
96. I have made over 40 phone calls to the ACA
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 01:55 PM
Dec 2013

I have no way to look at the plans, except for one provider. I give up. I don't want a policy with a higher deductible anyway, so we're staying with what we have. I'll try again next year, as my husband will be on Medicare by then and I'll be on a plan by myself.

lostincalifornia

(5,520 posts)
97. I guess I misunderstood, I thought you were approved, which I thought meant you had a health insurer
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 03:05 PM
Dec 2013

from the ACA, and knew who the insurer was. Obviously not, and it sounds you have really been messed around.

I had my own observations which were not particularly positive. It had to do with the premium cost. If someone is on the borderline where their modified adjusted gross income is just slightly over the limit to qualify for a subsidy, and you are over 55, the premium is quite substantial.

Of course a lot depends where you live, but if you have two people who are in their sixties, and their modified adjusted gross is slightly over 63K a year, total premiums for the silver plan, would be around 1500 a month. That is 18K a year. The Bronze plan would be about 1200 a month or 14.4K a year.

Now if the income was 62K instead of 63K, it would qualify for the subsidy, and the silver plan would be around 500 month, while the Bronze plan about 150 a month.

For a 1000 dollar difference in income that is quite a difference.

In my personal case, I will be losing my job at the end of December, and unsubsidized COBRA will be cheaper than the ACA premiums.

Yes, the ACA has the opportunity to help a lot of people, but a lot of people will not be helped, and actually might impact them negatively.

This is why we need single payer for everyone, but in this environment right now, the ACA is the best they could do

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)
98. Yes, we're approved
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 04:38 PM
Dec 2013

The problem is the website. I was finally able to log in to our account last week, which was set up I believe in August, it asked for the application number, which I didn't have, because I've never received even one email from them. So once again I called them, they gave me the application number, I entered into the website and it said: "You have tried too many times. Wait 24 hours and try again."

I don't know how I tried too many times, it was my first time! So I waited 3 days and tried again - same error message. Another phone call, and I was told to just keep waiting.

I also have an income problem - no one can tell me how to arrive at the AGI, because my husband gets SS Disability and we don't know how much is taxable. It's a disaster for some people. In our instance, our income will drop by 55% in 2014 because we spent our annuity on healthcare premiums and it's gone!

Like I said...I give up until next year. I doubt it will ever be able to help us because the plan we have is awesome. But it did drop from $1,211/month in 2011 and 2012 to $768 this year due to the new law about spending a certain amount on healthcare vs. administrative costs. So I am grateful to the ACA for that.

Tanuki

(16,507 posts)
109. Wow, how fantastic for you! You saved $5328 due to the ACA last year!
Mon Dec 16, 2013, 12:43 PM
Dec 2013

Bravo, Holly! But if your husband is on SSI, wouldn't he qualify for Medicare anyway?

Holly_Hobby

(3,033 posts)
112. Yes, we saved a small fortune
Mon Dec 16, 2013, 04:42 PM
Dec 2013

My husband will be eligible for Medicare in Sept., 2014, so I'll need my own policy. If I keep what we have, there's no savings for dropping him off, and Medicare is about $105/month. So I'll try the ACA again next year.

If our premiums hadn't dropped, we would be without insurance.

diabeticman

(3,121 posts)
39. My wife has been trying to sign up since Oct. It has been a nightmare she hasn't been able
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 01:05 PM
Dec 2013

to fully enroll yet. Keeps asking her the same questions and kicking her out of the system BUT you make complaints here and you are branded a troll.





You aren't alone.


Why they didn't have experts working on this website before day one of enrollment is far beyond me.


But don't take my words because others here will tell you we are trolls we just happen to be liberal independents NOT democrats

diabeticman

(3,121 posts)
57. She has tried calling the number and they informed her that once she started the application
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:27 PM
Dec 2013

online she had to finish it online.

She has called 3 times and was told If you start an Application you have to finish it online. She was told to get an new e-mail address erase the old application and start with a new one. She has been trying to enroll in a plan that is cheap enough for us to make monthly payments on for about a week and a half.



We have typed in our zip code to find a broker or whatever they are called to help us and the it seems the nearest one to us is either in Youngstown Ohio or Pittsburgh. There is nothing near our town. She would drive to Sharon if she had too but she isn't going to another state or driving an hour away.

We do not have a printer and probably won't be able to get one until Feburary. We shouldn't have this much difficulty signing up.


 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
44. ***UPDATE**** We got it fixed, sort of!!!!
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 01:48 PM
Dec 2013

Okay, we managed to get it fixed by CHANGING the amounts that we were reporting as income for 2014. The issue was that my adult daughter lives and works with us but does not earn enough money to kick her over what would (in another state) qualify for the expanded Medicaid program. Once we 'adjusted' her income to put her over out of the expanded Medicaid range, the system processed everything error free.

Obviously, one would expect something like this to be picked up in bug testing almost instantly, but there you go.

In any case, now we can see the actual plans available to us. I don't actually understand them, sadly, but it LOOKS like some of them are a pretty good deal.

 

Demit

(11,238 posts)
50. Uh oh on the not understanding them. Sounds like more shrieking & clutching is in store.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:13 PM
Dec 2013

We're bracing for it.

 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
52. No, I think I am getting it figured out....
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:22 PM
Dec 2013

In any case, the problem there is not with the website (which seems to be working now that we figured out what was causing the error), but with my knowledge.

What's weird is that the GOLD level plans seem worse than the SILVER plans they are offering us.

Anyway, I think we have figured out that we need a Silver PPO plan rather than an HMO plan (the HMO plan doesn't seem to have any doctors in our area). It would cost us more, but it could still be a good deal. Now my question is...

What's the difference between a multi-state plan and one that isn't?

We travel a LOT on business, so this might matter a great deal.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)
58. That happened to me as well. One of my silver level plans was a much better deal
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:30 PM
Dec 2013

than the gold level plan. It's Humana with an 1800/2900 max deductible. (and yes, everyone, I read the fine print, I know what I'm getting into and it's a very good plan).

MindMover

(5,016 posts)
51. It is the end of healthcare as the establishment has wanted it ...
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:17 PM
Dec 2013

shed a tear for those 1%ers that won't be getting there 2nd,3rd, and 4th home mortgage check due to Obamacare changing some of those rules ..... BOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO

Skip Intro

(19,768 posts)
56. I see the "attack anyone who complains" brigade is all over you here.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:27 PM
Dec 2013

Same kind of mocking insults they've been using since 2008 on various issues. You see it from the admin too. Question something you're told or point out inconvenient realities and the knives come out. What a sad role to play, and an even sadder effect it has. And some wonder why Obama's approval has fallen to the upper 30's, right along with approval for the ACA. Who wants to be on the side of a bunch of arrogant reactionaries who deny reality and demand that you do as well, even if access to healthcare for you and your family hangs in the balance.

Sad.

MindMover

(5,016 posts)
72. How many different ways can a person/family enroll in Obamacare ... ?
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 04:46 PM
Dec 2013

Lets count the ways together:

1. In person

2. On the telephone/cell

3. On the internet

4. Fill out a form on paper (OMG) and mail it in

5. Use a state website

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2013/1022/Obamacare-101-Seven-ways-you-can-sign-up-despite-Web-woes/Pick-up-the-phone

Ohhh, and by the by and by, the deadline is really FEBRUARY 15th of 2014 ....

Skip Intro

(19,768 posts)
74. And here you come to prove my point.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 05:00 PM
Dec 2013

Snarky arrogance and hatred for those being negatively impacted. Good job, you're a great ambassador for the ACA and Obama as well.

Americans have been told by ads, b-list celebs and Democrats, including Obama, to go to the website and hurry because the deadline is soon, so don't blame people for believing what they were being told, blame the people who told them.

Btw, it isn't just the website, but the specs of the plans as well, as I explained just below. Reality.

Ohhh, and by the by and by (?), the official website says deadline is Dec. 23. So you might want to know what the hell you're talking about before you go attacking other people for not playing along that this is some glowing magic oracle that will grant us all unlimited wishes.

Final question, have you signed up for Obamacare? I don't mean placed a plan in your cart, I mean signed up and paid and gotten an insurance card? Do you know anyone who has?

MindMover

(5,016 posts)
80. When facts are stated you call it arrogant and hateful ... WOW ...
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 05:47 PM
Dec 2013

You sound like a REPUBLICANT ....

This link is where I get my information ... a very well respected Christian website ... Christians do not lie ....

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2013/1010/Obamacare-101-Why-the-real-deadline-is-Feb.-15-video


and YES, I have several family members who have signed up on the website with no problemo .... I have not asked them if they got there cards yet because that is on the insurance companies and I have said it before and I will say it again, INSURANCE COMPANIES SHOULD NOT BE INVOLVED IN HEALTHCARE ... I personally believe that insurance companies will drag there feet as long as they can before they issue Obamacare cards ...

Skip Intro

(19,768 posts)
89. Don't like the snyde, accusatory attitude spread by you and the like
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 11:57 PM
Dec 2013

simply because somebody dared to relate a less-than-orgasmic experience with something Obama.

So in reply you're going to call me a repub (shock) and take a swipe at Christians. What next? Let me guess, racist?

How does all that relate in your world?

Blind gullibility is bad enough, but the arrogance in attacking anyone who doesn't sing Obamacare's praises to your liking and hit all the right notes for you on the matter is about as appealing as dog vomit.

Real person experiencing a real problem and you and others jump all over him like he's some fox in your hen house. Yet you claim your disdain for insurance companies while attacking someone having problems with a system that is designed to feed them customers. Please.

Skip Intro

(19,768 posts)
60. By the way, pay close attention to the network of providers
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:37 PM
Dec 2013

in any plan you're thinking about choosing. My sister, who has struggled with back, neck, and nerve pain for two years now finally found a pain management doctor that is trying new treatments and getting decent results so far. She's on disability insurance right now, but was told they'll re-evaluate her situation in January and likely will drop her. Her only other choice is to go through the exchange, but her new doc is nowhere to be found in the network for any of the plans she has access to.

So look close at the networks, make sure any docs you might want to see, any hospitals you might need to have access to, are covered. The network options I've seen are extremely restrictive.

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
61. I had the same problem. It took me 63 days to get my application sent to the insurance company.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 02:49 PM
Dec 2013

A total of about 80 frustrating hours spent on the phone with the call center and trying to get my account established and visible on the website. I still cannot see my information on the website, other than my name, security questions, etc. I was twice told that my applications by phone had gone through, and then one of them got "lost", and with the other one, an error was made, (not by me), and I had to do a third application, once the application was declared done, like you, I was unable to see the plans on the internet. They told me they could not fix that, and refused to send me the plans by mail. And the call center reps could not pull up my plans, except that one of them said he had some plans become available, which I knew were bogus offers because they were way more expensive than the calculators indicated my plans would cost. So I told the call rep this, and he spoke with supervisors, and then came back and said, well, why don't I just take one of the plans he had previously offered? I got really upset at that point

The next day, another call center rep could not pull up my plans, so I asked to speak with a call center supervisor, and after I was on hold for a really long time, she answered and was able to pull up all 78 plans, and told me that the only way I could get insurance was for her to tell me the information about the plans over the phone. So I had to choose a plan without the benefit of being able to read, study, and investigate them in order to determine exactly which one was really best for me.

I was on the phone with the call center for approximately 6 hrs that day. At $20 an hr for my time, and for cell phone bills, and pain and suffering, I figure the subsidies I receive for my premiums will just about cover the expenses for the time that I spent was struggling to get insurance through healtcare.gov

But, frustrated almost to the point of needing therapy, I chose a plan a plan over the phone, and it seems like a good deal. Unfortunately, the insurance company is claiming that Healthcare.gov sent them some wrong information. Healthcare.gov is claiming they sent the correct information. I sent the insurance company a premium payment, and have a policy ID number. But I am not sure if I will be covered on Jan 1, because of this information problem, which the insurance company will not allow me to correct personally, but are saying that Healthcare.gov needs to correct the information and send the corrected information to them. Healthcare.gov says it sent them the correct information in the first place, and that they cannot send them any more information, and that the insurance company has the accurate information and is not "accurately relaying correct information" to me.

Good luck, Demo Chris. I empathize, and sympathize. I can honestly say that I feel your pain. My experience with healthcare.gov was in the top 5 most fucked up things that I have ever experienced in life.

I'm so sorry, but you are not alone, I truly and totally understand.

Are you wondering, right now, if there is collusion going on between healthcare.gov and the insurance companies, collusion intended to insure the insurance companies make the most profit off of you possible?

It may please you to know that I have a really great little recording device for use with my cell phone. It records things very clearly!

Hang in there.


Zorra

(27,670 posts)
113. Update on this: It turned out that the insurance company, and not Helathcare.gov, was at fault for
Mon Dec 16, 2013, 05:24 PM
Dec 2013

the error on my personal information.

I am now, according to the insurance company, officially insured with an excellent, very affordable health insurance plan, and coverage will begin on Jan. 1.

Response to Demo_Chris (Original post)

Response to darkangel218 (Reply #63)

curlyred

(1,879 posts)
67. I like this part of your update: "In any case, the problem there is not with the website.....
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 03:17 PM
Dec 2013

but with my knowledge".

spin

(17,493 posts)
68. I hate to say this but I suspect Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont. might have been right ...
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 03:39 PM
Dec 2013

when he told Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of his concern that the roll out of the ACA might be a train wreck. (Ref: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/05/10/affordable-care-act-obamacare-column/2144409/)

On the other hand, I just heard back from an acquaintance in Montana who had applied over the phone for the ACA in October. I had warned her that there was some chance that her application might not have went through. She checked and everything was fine and she will have a health care policy on Jan 1 that will save her and her husband a considerable amount of money over their current plan.

Fortunately I am on a single payer system of heath care. It's called Medicare. I also have a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan. Six months ago I had an operation that required an overnight stay in a cardiac intensive care unit. My total cost including doctor co-pays, diagnostic tests, the surgeons bill, and the hospital bill was ZERO!


 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
70. I am very concerned about it, but so far...
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 03:52 PM
Dec 2013

I have now managed to FIND a policy that seems okay. The website won't actually allow me to purchase it, that part has failed as well (it will, but only if I buy TWO identical policies), but I am grinding on.

spin

(17,493 posts)
71. Good luck. I hope everything works out for you and for other people who are applying. (n/t)
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 04:35 PM
Dec 2013

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)
73. Interesting. We have an adult daughter with us as well, but
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 04:50 PM
Dec 2013

she is filing separately. We put down 2 in our household even though there are three.
She will put "one".
I did a chat before I started the process and the person on the other end said that was fine.

We didn't have any problems. It was really fast.

 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
75. UPDATE #2 ...The plans offered do not seem to be correct
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 05:05 PM
Dec 2013

The plans offered do not seem correct in terms of their cost or the subsidy our family is apparently entitled to. Here's what happened...

1. We selected a plan that, while expensive, looked pretty good. Well done Obamacare! We went to check out.

2. At the purchase plan stage, it wouldn't allow us to select just ONE of these great plans, it insisted we buy two. We decided we would print everything out then call the insurance company.

3. We print everything out and the website shows one subsidy amount, the printout summary shows a completely different one, and when we call the insurance company they come up with a third that is altogether different. For reference, I went to the Kaiser Calculaor page and it offered yet another. So now we have four, and no one seems to know.

4. On the phone with the insurance company, and they are claiming the lowest subsidy of the bunch.

According to the Kaiser site the tax credit should be just over 9K a year for the family (we earn about 28K combined). According to the printout we would receive about $6900. According to Kaiser, our income would have to be 45K for it to be at that level.

DevonRex

(22,541 posts)
76. Chris, you need in-person help. They will
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 05:19 PM
Dec 2013

walk you through the entire process from beginning to end. You can find places to get that help on the healthcare.gov website or at HRSA.gov. Any Federally funded clinic can help you with your application and can show you ALL the plans. Just put your zip code in and it'll show you the nearest places.

DevonRex

(22,541 posts)
78. Here's the link to TX HRSA clinics that will assist you.
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 05:31 PM
Dec 2013

And this is just clinics. The healthcare.gov site probably has more types of facilities listed. But this is a start. My husband works at HRSA so...
http://www.hrsa.gov/about/news/2013tables/outreachandenrollment/tx.html

Zorra

(27,670 posts)
83. I tried to call my navigators here in AZ and left messages, and they were supposed to call me back,
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 06:51 PM
Dec 2013

but they never did. But because I managed to get it done (I hope!) over the phone, I dropped pursuing the navigator avenue.

However, people I know have had some success by going directly to the navigator's offices or clinics in my region.

So if you don't have any luck calling the navigator on the phone to set up an appointment, or whatever, you might try going directly to navigator office or clinic and getting it over with.

 

B Calm

(28,762 posts)
82. I just went in to healthcare.gov and within a minute could see the
Sat Dec 14, 2013, 06:39 PM
Dec 2013

the insurance plans available.

Dark n Stormy Knight

(10,486 posts)
91. Possibly the worst professionally designed, major website in history. Also, the
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 01:54 AM
Dec 2013

people you speak to if you call are nearly useless. Seems they had about 30 minutes training. I am so disappointed that this was handled so poorly.

My husband and I have spend countless hours trying to get health insurance from that site. We may have finally accomplished that. However, there was a story today about the info from those who thought they'd signed up never got to the insurance company they tried to buy from.

It had been three days on Friday and still no contact from the company. We'll call them Monday and see if they have our sign-up info.

Dark n Stormy Knight

(10,486 posts)
114. I don't consider Freeperville "professionally designed.' I have a master's degree in instructional
Thu Jan 9, 2014, 05:49 PM
Jan 2014

design and technology, so I have some insight and I stand by my critique, or would back down only as far as to say healthcare.gov is one of the top maybe ten worst. It is that bad.

 

magical thyme

(14,881 posts)
94. I thought the deadline was end of March, so I looked it up and I'm right
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 11:33 AM
Dec 2013
https://www.healthcare.gov/what-key-dates-do-i-need-to-know/

There are 3 key dates you'll want to mark on your calendar:
•October 1, 2013: Marketplace open enrollment started
•January 1, 2014: Health coverage can start
•March 31, 2014: Open enrollment ends
 

Demo_Chris

(6,234 posts)
95. The current deadline is Dec 23rd ...
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 01:06 PM
Dec 2013

If you want your insurance to be effective January 1st.

Which, if you are paying for it, only makes sense. That December 23rd deadline was November 15th, then December 15th, now December 23rd, and supposedly the Obama Administration is begging the insurance companies to accept and cover people who sign up even after January 1st.

When I first wrote the OP in this thread it had been 9 hours. On that attempt, since I tried a month ago and never got past account verification. All told I probably put 15 hours into it, and so far nothing. The 800 number from the Obamacare website couldn't make the thing work, and the insurance company couldn't make it work either. We have four wildly different answers as to what kind of tax credit we are entitled to, and until that's resolved I can't sign up for anything.

 

Vietnameravet

(1,085 posts)
103. fyi
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 09:02 PM
Dec 2013

I just went to the site and saw all the plans..the site is very fast and I had no problem at all..

 

NoOneMan

(4,795 posts)
105. Obamacare, because Americans deserve something more complex than Single-Payer
Sun Dec 15, 2013, 09:24 PM
Dec 2013

Obamacare, for when checking a box to indicate you have a pulse is just too simplistic.

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