Colorado's Obamacare does well in its first week

Even with the disastrous web sign up system rollout, there are those who are beginning to realize that some of the conservative  cable talk show media  did not have it quite  right about Obamacare.   What must be puzzling to the dedicated Obamacare and Obama haters is why public approval of Obamacare (the ACA, Affordable Care Act) actually rose 8 points even as media and they  focused on the web system screw ups.  In fact,  a CNN poll released October 21 three weeks into the web rollout found “ that 53% either support Obamacare or say it's not liberal enough.”   Consumers are beginning to sort out  for themselves  what is fact versus the fiction of   misspeaking and  fear mongering anti Obamacare forces.

What we hear in Colorado differs from  the federal web sign up plan.   Colorado is one of the fifteen states that  opted to develop and manage their own market place exchanges and web site. The rest of the states  decided to let Uncle Sam do it and they did a disservice to their own citizens. Even in the first month of the sign ups state run Obamacare systems have worked much better than the federal one.

In Colorado, Connect for  Health Colorado is managing the  marketplace exchanges where consumers can shop, choose,  and enroll . Their web site is www.connectforhealthco.com. Colorado has also flooded the state with “navigators”,  allowing for  in person applications, certifying insurance agents to sign their customers up, and staffing call centers   for telephone sign ups and answering questions.(1- 855-752-6749.)  

The figures provided by the Colorado system  for the first week reveal a successful operation:

• Unique website visitors: 162,941
• Calls and chats with Customer Service Center Representatives: 9,658
• Accounts created: 18,174
• Average call and chat wait time: 5 minutes 44 seconds
• Enrollments: 226
• Covered Lives: 305

That enrollments were  low this first week  is not surprising . Experience with the Massachusetts system after which Obamacare was patterned, was that most enrollments did not occur until the last moment. It is a little early to expect much now  anyway since  open enrollment lasts for another five months , while coverage does not begin until January 1 for early birds  who enroll by December 15.

 The most popular pages visited on the Colorado website and questions asked  indicate visitors during the first week were mostly kicking the tires,  being  curious  about whether they qualified for lowered premiums, how to sign up,  and what the sticker price for them would be.  

Also, there are a wide range of plans from which to choose that require some thought and kitchen table discussion :  One major decision is whether one  should one choose a plan with low monthly premiums and higher deductibles and co pays or more expensive monthly premiums with less  subsequent out of pocket expenses.

Making sign up for Obamacare easier, applicants  will not have to fill out pages of  health history  because  all pre-existing conditions will be covered anyway.  Questions about  income will be asked and answers verified, however, to determine if customers are eligible for reduced premiums.  

Signing up young, healthy adults is critical to Obamacare’s financial success. Young people through 29 years old can get an ultra  low cost catastrophic plan as well as staying on their parents’ plans until they turn 26. There are those wringing their hands (or anti Obamacare forces are praying)  that young people will not sign up because they will be unable to deal with   a faulty computer program. They should neither  fret or hope .  Colorado systems are not faulty.  Having raised three teenagers and observed three teenage grandchildren close at hand, my experience is that if anyone has the ability and patience to apply on line, this computer savvy generation does. However, “ last minute”  is their middle name even into young adulthood.