COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio’s director of insurance says she’s experienced the same computer glitches that have frustrated many potential applicants searching for insurance plans under President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor (above) told a group of small business owners Wednesday that her insurance department is encouraging people to be patient and try during off hours.
Consumers can get private health insurance, subsidized by the federal government, through the new insurance markets created by the health law.
Ohio chose to let the federal government run its online marketplace, which has been snarled by technical glitches and long waits.
Taylor, a Republican, has been one of Ohio’s most vocal critics of the health overhaul. She said because Washington is operating the marketplace, the state doesn’t know how many Ohioans have successfully enrolled.
An Associated Press-GfK poll says seven percent of Americans report that somebody in their household has tried to sign up for insurance through the health care exchanges, which could add up to more than 20 million people.
Three-fourths of those who tried to sign up reported problems and just 7 percent of those surveyed say the rollout has gone well.