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Healthcare.gov Works Great! (For a Government Website)
Townhall,com ^ | December 5, 2013 | Michael Schaus

Posted on 12/05/2013 12:45:33 PM PST by Kaslin

The Obamacare website is fixed!!! (Kinda.) Well, it still lacks any basic security measures, it is still logging people off for no reason, and it’s not actually enrolling people who complete the application process… So, yeah: It’s close enough for government work.

Let me put this another way: You spend days logging on (and re-logging on) to the website. You even get through setting up a username and password. You finally get to enter your personal information (don’t worry: You will soon be winning a Nigerian lottery).You even get to view some rates and plans. And… You pick one… Well, it turns out that you still might not be enrolled in any actual insurance plan.

Consider this story from ABC News:

Bob Shlora of Alpharetta, Ga., was supposed to be a belated Obamacare success story. After weeks of trying, the 61-year-old told ABC News he fully enrolled in a new health insurance plan through the federal marketplace over the weekend, and received a Humana policy ID number to prove it. But two days later, his insurer has no record of the transaction, Shlora said, even though his account on the government website indicates that he has a plan.

Maybe it will give Bob a little comfort to know that the IRS will be verifying his enrollment for him on next year’s tax assessments. (Don’t get sick Bob.) Bob’s reaction to the fiasco, however, was typical of American’s disdain for government enterprises:

“I feel like this: My application was taken … by a bureaucrat, it was put on a conveyor belt and it’s still going around, and it’s never going to leave the building,” he said. “I’ve lost hope. If it happens, great.”

In all fairness, it’s not really the website’s fault. After all, it is run by the government.

In the wake of security horror stories, website crashes, and consumer data mishaps, it should seem ironic that the President’s renewed sales pitch revolves around bringing the experience up to the standards we’ve become accustomed to in the private sector.

Remember when Obama explained that the website would be easier than making a purchase on e-bay or Amazon? Remember when he compared his website’s glitches to those of the new Apple operating software?

If the objective is to have a healthcare system that operates as efficiently and easily as the private sector economy… Then, why did we hand control over to the government?

Billions of federal tax dollars have been spent since the government demanded stewardship over the healthcare industry, and we’re faced with a failing system of incompetence and inadequacies. And our big hope now? That maybe, after Obama spends billions more and selectively implements the law, we will finally have a system that is close to being as efficient as our private sector economy.

The ongoing drama over Healthcare.gov, and Obamacare, is an indictment of central planner’s inadequate grasp of consumer needs or business operations.

God bless the Democrats, however, for making a bad piece of legislation into a full-blown disaster. Harry Reid has exempted members of his staff from Obamacare’s requirements. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democrat chairmanwoman, has insisted that Democrats across the nation will be running with Obamacare as their main message for the 2014 elections (OhPleaseBeTruePleaseBeTruePleaseBeTrue).

Even the President has managed to double down on his policy failure by pushing a broken website, giving out special exemptions to business groups, and allowing federal subsidies to be handed out on the “honor system.”

The truth is, the Healthcare.gov fiasco is a far bigger crises for the Democrat party than a poorly managed (and highly insecure) website. It is a window into the failure of government sponsored healthcare. Actually, it is a window into the incompetence of government. It is but a mere brush stroke in an impressionist painting of government incompetence. And, unlike a farfetched idea of taxing some Wall Street financier’s bank account, this failure can be felt in all corners of the American electorate.

So let’s hope that Debbie Wasserman Schultz is right, and Democrats campaign on preserving a deterioration of quality healthcare. Let’s hope that Obama continues his desperate defense of his indefensible Obamacare sales pitches. And let’s hope that Republicans can recapture the Senate before Bob gets sick without insurance coverage.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
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1 posted on 12/05/2013 12:45:33 PM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

OTOH - how is it that the IRS, and SS sites work?


2 posted on 12/05/2013 12:50:48 PM PST by SkyDancer (Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
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To: Kaslin

The fecal matter is really going to hit the fan in about a month when these folks start trying to file claims.


3 posted on 12/05/2013 12:51:29 PM PST by 6ppc (It's torch and pitchfork time)
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To: Kaslin

“...is an indictment of central planner’s inadequate grasp of consumer needs or business operations.”

::::::::::::

Just ANOTHER testimony to the fact that this Constitutional disaster upon the American people is NOT about healthcare. It never has been.


4 posted on 12/05/2013 12:53:35 PM PST by EagleUSA
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To: EagleUSA

Running a web-site that collects Personal Data but is not secure is illegal in MA.


5 posted on 12/05/2013 12:54:35 PM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: Kaslin; GeronL

Would you invest your money in this company?

Why would you invest your nation’s future in this administration and a broken pipe dream?


6 posted on 12/05/2013 1:03:15 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: Kaslin
Make it easy on yourself. Stop analyzing and complaining. Obamacare must be repealed.

Do not listen when they say it cannot be repealed. Of course it can be repealed. Any law enacted by Congress can be repealed by Congress. It may not be "easy" but it can be done. They just have to want to do it and they must have the votes of course.

Just say "Repeal Obamacare"

7 posted on 12/05/2013 1:04:14 PM PST by Rapscallion (Repeal Obamacare. It is a loser.)
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To: massgopguy
Running a web-site that collects Personal Data but is not secure is illegal in MA.

"Yeah, but so was same sex marriage." - The Evolved Golden Child That Is Barack Obama

8 posted on 12/05/2013 1:04:29 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: SkyDancer
OTOH - how is it that the IRS, and SS sites work?

Michelle's college buddy wasn't in charge of them.

9 posted on 12/05/2013 1:13:32 PM PST by JennysCool (My hypocrisy goes only so far)
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To: Rapscallion

Wikipedia lists 39 pages of repealed federal laws. But if repealing Obamacare gathers steam, watch the breathless, brainless media report, “This has NEVER happened before! Only under our First Black President! Shame! Horror!”


10 posted on 12/05/2013 1:17:14 PM PST by JennysCool (My hypocrisy goes only so far)
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To: Rapscallion

We repealed the 18th amendment with the 23rd. You’re damned right it can be done, except here we’re not talking about a constitutional amendment, just a bad progressive law rushed through under false pretences, like the Volstead act.
While we’re at it, repeal the 16th and 17th amendments as well, declare a moratorium on all immigration applications and pass a law establishing national CCL reciprocity.
That would be a good start for a conservative Congress and president.


11 posted on 12/05/2013 1:21:17 PM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
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To: JennysCool

And of course no investigation. If there were, it’d be labeled racist.


12 posted on 12/05/2013 1:25:16 PM PST by SkyDancer (Live your life in such a way that the Westboro church will want to picket your funeral.)
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To: Kaslin

I can see it now. “The 2014 Nobel prize for Fecklessness goes to: Barak Obama!”


13 posted on 12/05/2013 1:35:07 PM PST by haroldeveryman
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To: haroldeveryman

Wasn’t that one included in the one he got in 2009?


14 posted on 12/05/2013 1:39:25 PM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
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To: Kaslin

It doesn’t say the man paid his money for the first month’s premium and if he didn’t, he has no plan.

If I had to enroll, I’d do it through the insurance company, not Hussein’s website as I wouldn’t pay any money on Hussein’s website and have any hope it would get to the insurance company. Actually, if I had to pay money at the high levels they cost, I couldn’t afford one. I just checked my Medicare premium for 2014 and there is no change in the premium for 2014.


15 posted on 12/05/2013 1:47:44 PM PST by Marcella ((Prepping can save your life today. I am a Christian, not a Muslim.))
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To: Kaslin

But remember, the only reason this got forked up is because of the “Gummint IT purchasing rules”...or so Dear Leader told us. Now even if/when they finally get the site working, folks will see if that’s truly what is wrong or not.

Especially when they start getting multi-thousand dollar medical bills that aren’t covered by non-existent insurance.


16 posted on 12/05/2013 2:03:10 PM PST by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: Kaslin

Failing, failing, failing......read this, and then pass it on.

Obama Flowers - Have you ordered yours yet?

(Receptionist) Hello, Welcome to ObamaFlowers, My name is Trina. How can I help you?

(Customer) Hello, I received an email from Professional Flowers stating that my flower order has been canceled and I should go to your exchange to reorder it. I tried your website, but it seems like it is not working. So I am calling the 800 number.

(Receptionist) Yes, I am sorry about the website. It should be fixed by the end of November – or maybe December. But I can help you.

(Customer) Thanks, I ordered a “Spring Bouquet” for our anniversary, and wanted it delivered to my wife.

(Receptionist Interrupting) Sir, “Spring Bouquets” do not meet our minimum standards, I will be happy to provide you with Red Roses.

(Customer) But I have always ordered “Spring Bouquets”, done it for years, my wife likes them.

(Receptionist) Roses are better, sir. I am sure your wife will love them.

(Customer) Well, how much are they?

(Receptionist) It depends sir, do you want our Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum package.

(Customer) What’s the difference?

(Receptionist) 6, 12,18 or 24 Red Roses.

(Customer) The Silver package may be okay, how much is it?

(Receptionist) It depends sir, what is you monthly income?

(Customer) What does that have to do with anything?

(Receptionist) I need that to determine your government flower subsidy, then I can determine how much your out of pocket cost will be. But if your income is below our minimums for a subsidy, then I can refer you to our FlowerAid department.

(Customer) FlowerAid?

(Receptionist) Yes, Flowers are a Right, everyone has a right to flowers. So, if you can’t afford them, then the government will supply them free of charge.

(Customer) Who said they were a Right?

(Receptionist) Congress passed it, the President signed it and the Supreme Court found it Constitutional.

(Customer) Whoa.....I don’t remember seeing anything in the Constitution regarding Flowers as a Right.

(Receptionist) It is not really a Right in the Constitution, but ObamaFlowers is Constitutional because the Supreme Court Ruled it a “Tax”. Taxes are Constitutional. But we feel it is a Right.

(Customer) I don’t believe this...

(Receptionist) It’s the law of the land sir. Now, we anticipated most people would go for the Silver Package, so what is you monthly income sir?

(Customer) Forget it, I think I will forgo the flowers this year.

(Receptionist) In that case sir, I will still need your monthly income.

(Customer) Why?

(Receptionist) To determine what your ‘non-participation’ cost would be.

(Customer) WHAT? Your can’t charge me for NOT buying flowers!

(Receptionist) It’s the law of the land, sir, approved by the Supreme Court. It’s $9.50 or 1% of your monthly income.....

(Customer)interrupting) This is ridiculous, I’ll pay the $9.50..

(Receptionist) Sir, it is the $9.50 or 1% of your monthly income, whichever is greater.

(Customer) ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What a ripoff!!

(Receptionist) Actually sir, it is a good deal. Next year it will be 2%.

(Customer) Look, I’m going to call my Congressman to find out what’s going on here. This is ridiculous. I’m not going to pay it.

(Receptionist) Sorry to hear that sir, that’s why I had the NSA track this call and obtain the make and model of the cell phone your are using.

(Customer) Why does the NSA need to know what kind of CELL PHONE I AM USING?

(Receptionist) So they get your GPS coordinates sir

(Door Bell rings followed immediately by a loud knock on the door)

(Receptionist) That would be the IRS sir. Thanks for calling ObamaFlowers, have a nice day...and God


17 posted on 12/05/2013 3:19:49 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Kaslin; onyx; TheOldLady; KC_Lion; F15Eagle; Hardraade; MestaMachine; Zionist Conspirator; 50mm; ...
 photo NewHealthcareGov_zpsb183d0dd.jpg

18 posted on 12/05/2013 5:40:17 PM PST by Col Freeper (FR: A smorgasbord of Conservative Mindfood - dig in and enjoy it!)
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To: Kaslin
 photo OCareMissionAccomplished_zpsb6c9b977.jpg
19 posted on 12/05/2013 7:21:10 PM PST by HotHunt
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To: Kaslin
 photo OCareITTeam_zps24c90434.jpg
20 posted on 12/05/2013 7:22:45 PM PST by HotHunt
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