The Obama administration has said 20 percent of Americans still won't complete the process of purchasing insurance through HealthCare.gov at the end of this month, according to a report from The Washington Post.
Although federal officials have vowed to fix HealthCare.gov for most users by Nov. 30, White House spokesman Jay Carney has told reporters one in five people who start the process online still won't end up purchasing insurance through the federal exchange site.
Since its launch last month, the federal exchange website has experienced numerous technical issues, such as people not being able to create accounts, frustrating consumers and drawing criticism from the healthcare reform law's opponents. HHS and CMS leaders have said they are working around the clock to fix the site and that it should run smoothly for most users by the end of this month.
Last week, HHS released enrollment figures for the site's first month, revealing only 26,794 people successfully completed applications and selected health plans through the federal health insurance exchange site from Oct. 1 to Nov. 2. An additional 79,391 people enrolled through state-based exchanges.
The technical issues won't be the only obstacle stopping that 20 percent from enrolling. Mr. Carney said some won't feel comfortable purchasing coverage using a computer, while others might have complicated tax situations that prevent the website from determining their eligibility for subsidies, according to the report.
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