Despite Glitches, Health Insurance Officials Encouraged

Despite glitches in the new online insurance marketplace, Arkansas officials were encouraged by the early participation on Day One.

The federal government’s marketplace web site triggered technical problems for the state’s online enrollment site – arhealthconnector.org – but Insurance Department leaders said they felt users would not be deterred.

John Lyon with our content partner, the Arkansas News Bureau, reports:

Cynthia Crone, the Insurance Department’s director of planning for the insurance marketplace, said glitches in the system were not unexpected. She said she doubted that a delay would discourage prospective enrollees from participating in the insurance exchange.

“I’d like to think it’ll make them want it even more. If they couldn’t get it today, they’ll want even more to see what’s there,” Crone said.

The Arkansas Health Connector site had received 17,500 hits by late Tuesday afternoon, and a call center at the Insurance Department was inundated with calls, Haywood said.

You can read Lyon’s full report at this link.