After years of anticipation, coverage on the new Obamacare marketplaces — the centerpiece of the sweeping health care law that was passed in 2010 — finally begins on Wednesday. The new, expanded version of Medicaid also goes into effect in some states, and new consumer protections kick in.
Wednesday is not only a milestone for Obamacare but also a day of reckoning: The start of coverage on the state-based marketplaces should shed light on whether the administration truly resolved one of the major technical problems that initially plagued HealthCare.gov, the federal site that serves as an Obamacare portal for 36 states. The opening of the marketplaces will also test some steps the administration is taking, with the help of the private sector, to make sure those who have signed up for insurance receive the coverage they’re expecting.
As of Dec. 28, more than 2.1 million Americans had signed up for private insurance through Obamacare, the administration said Tuesday.
Approximately half of the enrollees signed up on state-run Obamacare sites, while the rest signed up on Healthcare.gov. Anyone who signed up for insurance on Healthcare.gov by Dec. 24 should have coverage when the marketplaces open Wednesday. On a conference call with reporters, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday will be “a new day in health care for millions of Americans.”
I tried to sign up for their benefits several weeks ago – filled out the entire set of questions and got to the “Pay” button…. and nothing! The site isn’t as bad as I expected it to be (after hearing horror stories) but at the same time, the “Pay” button seems to be broken for me and several other people I talked to. Bizarre!