Federal contractors have identified most of the issues with the federal health insurance exchange website, but the problems are so extensive it might take weeks to get the site running smoothly, according to a report from The New York Times.
Obama administration officials asked contractors last week if they could repair and reboot the exchange site by Nov. 1, but some specialists estimate it might not be possible to fix the system until after Dec. 15, the deadline for people to sign up for health insurance coverage starting in January, according to the report. One specialist told the Times the repairs could involve rewriting up to 5 million lines of software code.
Numerous glitches have cropped up since the exchanges opened for enrollment earlier this month, with people not being able to create accounts on HealthCare.gov, dysfunctional drop down tools and the federal exchange site crashing due to high traffic have surfaced since the exchanges launched. The technical issues have drawn criticism from Republicans, who will hold a hearing Thursday concerning the PPACA's "troubled rollout."
President Obama will host a Rose Garden event today for people who have successfully enrolled in the health insurance exchanges. He plans to note that although the glitches are "inexcusable," the healthcare reform law is "more than a website," White House aides told the Times.
More Articles on PPACA Implementation:
Republicans to Hold Hearing on PPACA's "Troubled" Implementation
GOP Demands Sec. Sebelius's Resignation, She Stands Firm
Republicans Question HHS About PPACA Exchange Technical Issues