In case you missed President Obama's Obamacare sales pitch yesterday, Guy has you covered with all the details here, but the White House followed up the speech with an email urging people to think of the healthcare legislation "beyond the website." The email, as President Obama did yesterday, asks people trying to sign up through the failing exchanges on heathcare.gov to call a 1-800 number.
Some of the best and brightest are now doing everything they can to fix the site as quickly as possible. People are working overtime, 24/7, and we've brought in some of the best IT experts from across the country to join the team at the federal agency responsible for running the Marketplace. And as President Obama said today, "Nobody's madder than me about the fact that the website isn't working as well as it should, which means it's going to get fixed."
It's also important to remember that the website is not the only way to enroll. You can dial the call center at 1-800-318-2596 and apply directly over the phone. Typically, it takes about 25 minutes for an individual or about 45 for a family. You can also find local "navigators" who can help you enroll in person at LocalHelp.HealthCare.gov.
You can apply for coverage 4 ways: by phone, online, by mail with a paper application, or with the help of an in-person assister.
The Washington Examiner's Phillip Klein called the number and what happened is priceless.
Can't make this up. Got through 800-number, followed prompts, and got referred to http://t.co/42WSNzdKsg.
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) October 21, 2013
And how about those "navigators" the White House keeps urging people to hand over their personal information to? Is the White House referring to the 'navigators' who used to work for the criminal enterprise ACORN? How about navigator Rosilyn Wells? She's wanted by police.
Finally, I'd like to remind everyone what 1-800-318-2596 spells out: 1-800-F-*-*-K-Y-O. If the Obamacare website can't function properly, imagine the emergency or operating rooms.
