Affordable Care Act website faces more major problems

The fallout over the website is now entering in fifth week, and the problem is getting worse

HOUSTON – There are more major problems for the Affordable Care Act website. Another technical failure left has users unable to access the website.

The fallout over the website is now entering its fifth week; and instead of getting better, the problems seem to be getting worse.

The website woes were even fodder for the opening monologue on 'Saturday Night Live.' An actress spoofed Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

"Unfortunately, the site was only designed to handle six users a time," the actress said with a straight face. "So if you're in a rush, consider using our low-res website, with simpler fonts and graphics."

The skit got good reviews, but on Capitol Hill no one's laughing.

"The incompetence in building this website is staggering," said Republican representative Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee.

"Everybody needs to chill out because it is going to work," said the Democratic governor of Kentucky, Steve Beshear.

The latest change is that the smiling woman on the home page is gone, now replaced by a graphic highlighting the different enrollment options for the Affordable Care Act.

But if you try, like Consumer Expert Amy Davis did, to get past the home screen and actually apply, you get the same message that appeared five weeks ago. "The system is down at the moment."

"It's better today than it was on Oct 1; but it's not perfect," Sebelius. 

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen urged an extension on the March 31 enrollment deadline.

"So that we can make sure we can get as many people who want health insurance able to enroll and be able to be covered," she explained.

But the administration says that mandate won't change.

Consumers are encouraged to call the 1-800 number if you can't enroll online. Davis did that too. The person on the other end of the line said his computer was having problems too. He offered to fill out a paper application, but said it would take about two weeks to get back to Davis to explain which, if any plans she qualifies for.


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