What I Learned From HealthCare.gov

So I decided to try to shop for health care coverage. This is what I found out.

1.

geekzonesupport.com

Despite reports to the contrary, the site is up and running.

2.

Then again, healthcare.gov gives the distinct impression that it won't let you shop for insurance anymore without applying online or by phone. But actually, as I found out later, that's not really true. What's up with that? I just wanted to compare rates easily without being told I can't. Turns out that I just needed to be persistent.

3.

But then healthcare.gov told me: "You can preview Marketplace health plans and prices available in your area. But to find out the actual costs for your personal situation, you need to apply." Huh? I can preview prices but they won't be accurate? I just want to compare prices of plans. Why are they telling me that I can do that... but that it won't be "actual" prices??

4.

But no! I then put in information about my age, state, and county... and then I ran through a bunch of different tabs... and lo and behold I got to see a bunch of different plans. Not bad after all.

5.

Well there you have it. Actually, finding out what your health care options are on the website is a lot easier than posting to BuzzFeed. (Sorry, BuzzFeed.) So is the REAL issue that people don't know that the website works? Or is it that they just don't want to purchase health insurance and would rather pay the tax? Or are they just waiting because there is no particular incentive to sign up this very moment? These seem to be the real questions. And the answers really won't be known until the spring. In politics, that's a lifetime away.