Governor: Connector website is ready
With the revamped Massachusetts Health Connector set to go live this weekend, Gov. Deval Patrick assures consumers it has passed its checkup this time.
The revamped insurance purchasing website, which experienced major troubles with its initial rollout a year ago, will provide a “better, faster and easier” experience.
The website implements the federal Affordable Care Act.
It will be up and running Saturday, Nov. 15, when the open enrollment period for buying health insurance for next year begins. Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents are expected to log in to find out whether they’re eligible for subsidized coverage under the ACA.
The 2015 open enrollment period ends Feb. 15.
During his monthly “Ask the Governor” segment Thursday on WGBH, Patrick said his office was briefing Governor-elect Charlie Baker about the site’s rollout.
Connector officials said they will have a command center monitoring traffic and problems encountered by computer users.
A call center will be staffed with 300 agents to answer questions. “We’re still very much big fans of live human beings answering questions, as much as we like this online tool,” said Maydad Cohen, project director for Gov. Deval Patrick.
After last fall’s failed rollout, current subscribers of the state's pre-ACA program, Commonwealth Care, will have to reapply. The more than 300,000 people placed in temporary MassHealth, or Medicaid, coverage will also have to reapply.
The website, designed by hCentive and Optum, is designed to handle four times the expected volumes of shoppers and subscribers.
But it is a work-in-progress. Consumers will be able to shop for health plans, have their eligibility for subsidies determined, and enroll in insurance through the new site.
Other functions, though, will not be immediately available. For instance, residents will not be able to search for their doctor within an insurance plan, but instead will be directed to the insurer's own website.
And Lora Pellegrini, president of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, noted that the Connector is still working to integrate into the system ways for subscribers to update their personal information and family status, which can impact plan enrollment. "If that gets done by Dec. 31, then this process can be seamless. If they're not done there will be hiccups," she said.
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