By U.S. Sen. Angus King
(I-Maine)
Millions of Americans across the country have expressed their frustrations with the new health care website. I count myself among those who are disappointed with the President’s rollout of the Affordable Care Act. The failure to create a functioning website to provide people with the necessary information and resources to enroll in new insurance plans is inexcusable. Furthermore, it has left a large number of folks in the uncomfortable position of losing their existing plans, while unable to learn about new options available to them.
That is why I supported the President’s one-year delay on the expiration of existing plans that had previously been canceled because they do not meet the ACA’s standards. His proposal will allow people more time to consider their options while continuing their current coverage.
However, despite problems with the new health care law’s implementation, it’s important to keep in mind that the purpose of the law is to offer higher quality health insurance to more people at a more affordable price. A goal that I still believe marks a step in the right direction for our country. Every year, too many lives are lost from a lack of health care insurance — taking an unbearable toll on our communities and the strength of our economy.
So as the White House works to resolve problems with healthcare.gov, I am encouraging people to access information about available insurance plans under the ACA through alternative resources. For example, TheHealthSherpa .com allows visitors to compare healthcare plans that meet ACA standards in the 34 states without existing marketplace websites, including Maine. While plans cannot be purchased through the site itself, it offers a way to learn about which options best meet their unique need and direct users to private insurance sites or telephone numbers to call to enroll.
Another useful resource is enroll207.com. Enroll207 is a project started by the Maine Health Access Foundation that connects people with certified assisters who can help Mainers review options through the Maine Health Insurance Marketplace. They provide free and confidential services and a great side-by-side comparison of different policies available. To learn about other resources, feel free to contact members of my staff in Maine at 1 (800) 432 1599.
It is my hope that the Administration will have successfully fixed the website by the end of the month at which point people in Maine and across the country will be able to enroll in new insurance plans that provide quality coverage at a lower cost. Until then, however, I remain committed to providing Mainers with as many resources as possible to learn about options available to them.
