HealthCare.Gov: New Government Website Gets Mostly Positive Reviews

On Thursday, the federal government launched HealthCare.gov, a new website that serves as a one-stop shop for everything you need to know regarding your healthcare.

At first glance, the site looks easy to use and asks users to answer a few questions about where they live, their health, employment status, etc. and then provides customized insurance information that is specific to that individual. It also provides the consumer with information on how to live a healthy lifestyle, the new law and its implications, comparative quality, and more.

The sleek and functional site collects "both public and private health insurance options across the nation in a single place" says Todd Park, the Chief Technology Officer of HealthCare.gov. Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius wrote in a White House blog post that the site "will help take some of the mystery out of shopping for health insurance."

The launch of web page has been met with many positive reviews. Matt Yglesias wrote on his site that the "website is, I think, a great example of better government in action."

Craig Newmark of craiglist.org wrote on the Huffington Post that it is "better customer service from government, and better return for taxpayer dollars, pretty good!"

Similarly, Time's Kate Pickert agrees that the aggregation of content is extremely useful and also that "site is amazingly easily to navigate".

However, Nancy Scola of the Tech President points out that there are a few problems with the site. Scola writes, "A key piece of information is, at this point, missing. HealthCare.gov is slated to have pricing information on each plan option by October of this fall, but it's not there yet." Furthermore, sometimes users are directed to a "Final Note" that tells them to contact their state insurance department for information, but then provides no contact information for them to do so.

Nevertheless, Ezra Klein of the Washington Post calls attention to the fact that the "health-care bill doesn't really kick in until 2014," and so although there may be a few problems now, the advantage of launching the site early allows for more time for the tech team to get it right before it really matters.

What do you think?

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Comments

[Tribal Knowledge]

12:48 AM on 07/03/2010

A nice, slick website. However, the underlying machinery of health care will not work as advertised/sold to us.

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/106887-health-law-risks-turning-away-sick.

[LeftLeanWing]

12:01 PM on 07/02/2010

As a Web Designer/Developer myself.....

I took a look at the Code....

It is Actually Quite Good and very well Organized...

I left a suggestion that the add a

FACTCHECK Section

to dispel Rumors and Misinformation in a way that is NOT Political Rebuttal or Attack

[time4change2009]

10:57 AM on 07/02/2010

Remember...this is just getting off the ground. The primary objective of this site launch is to create familiarity with the official site....and more importantly...to begin coverage for individuals historically denied due to pre-existings. This is a preliminary pool being put together to expedite coverage for those who are sick now. As more of the health care reform benefits are implemented....more info will be added to the site. It is also anticipated that premium rates for pre's will be reduced over time as the pool size increases. But NOW....all who have been denied in the past due to pre-existings will have access to life sustaining quality health care. THAT'S MAJOR NEWS !

[time4change2009]

10:37 AM on 07/02/2010

Got pre-existing ?...NOW...for the first time, thanks to the historic passing of Health Care Reform, Americans who have had pre-existing health conditions can have access to quality health care. The new official site contains a wide array of helpful information and the important thing is that the site contains a link to the application process for the New Pre-existing Conditions Insurance Plan (PCIP) ! THAT should be the headline !

That's right...you can NOW be COVERED !!!

It IS...A New Day !
Thanks Again...to ALL who fought !

[Tribal Knowledge]

12:49 AM on 07/03/2010

NOT FOR LONG, according to the Obama Administration:

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/106887-health-law-risks-turning-away-sick

[motu]

02:39 AM on 07/02/2010

I found out a lot of good info that WILL effect me even now for the better...
but as an individual/freelaner in 2014 I'll be much more better off if this quote from the site is really true and effective,
"You will be able to purchase high-quality insurance directly in an Exchange that gives you power similar to what large businesses have to get better choices and lower prices."

[Low Prices are Good]

02:29 AM on 07/02/2010

how about an insurance policy on my house that i can take out while it's in the process of burning to the ground? We now have health insurance for preexisting conditions so I'm sure we can extend this lovely benefit to all of insurance right? The possibilities are endless when you call it insurance but it's really a welfare scheme.

[Clint Abear]

07:23 AM on 07/02/2010

no its not, its for the 15 mil that have been denied for pre-existing. u have not been paying attention:)

[Lizzy28]

09:02 AM on 07/02/2010

When you work for a big company that offers health insurance the insurance comes free of preexisting. Not so when you buy private health insurance. I have private and have riders on the preexisting due to chronic health condition that excludes them from paying out a dime on it. My house could just as well burn to the ground with the medical bills I could be faced with. I'm not asking for welfare healthcare insurance. I'm BUYING the insurance and like many others am breathing a sigh of relief to know that in the future I don't have to worry about losing my house because health insurance is unavailable to me.

[Clint Abear]

09:08 AM on 07/02/2010

Lizzy u rock! the truth is best:)

[Low Prices are Good]

01:58 PM on 07/02/2010

A little history, the reason why employer based insurance came about was because of the wage ceiling the government put up in the mid 1940's. Employers responded by offering health insurance to lure people into their companies. Congress then provided tax breaks for such insurance during the 1960's and the HMO monster was cemented in place. So the insurance market has been perverted by do good politicians. The free market is not at fault if you ever bothered to open your eyes.

Lizzy. Your vote has been bought and paid for. Chances are you will be taking more from the system than you put in. I applaud your efforts in voting for someone to take from others to support yourself. Seriously, I don't blame people for taking advantage of the system, I just blame the system. Enjoy it while it lasts. How much did you contribute to the Obama campaign anyway? $25? You got a great return on your investment.

Perhaps you shouldn't have such a lavish house with your condition. Rent an apartment. Your right to have your cake and eat it too means someone else cant have cake. I guess as long as you cant see the person your stealing from, you don't feel so bad. I guess since you elect someone to do your stealing for you, it doesn't bother you. But like I said, congrats. You should be proud of your investment in your politician.

[rascalcat]

11:14 PM on 07/01/2010

The web-site is very easy to navigate. It took me less than 5 minutes to find out I can't afford it. I suppose it may be good for those facing major surgery, but premiums and deductables are so high, many in this economy will be shut out yet again.

[LeftLeanWing]

11:31 AM on 07/02/2010

But less will be with the new LAW....

It's not Truely Universal like a Single Payer system.... but it is a Great Improvement.

[berryessence]

11:09 PM on 07/01/2010

My only issue with the website is that I'm a VET

So if I want to buy a Health plan it looks like i'm going to be penalize by being vet and that they want me to stay at the VA PERIOD.

I hate this. I want to be able to get other health insurance besides the VA.

I love my care at the VA....I HATE THE WAIT to be seen

[Low Prices are Good]

02:31 AM on 07/02/2010

whoa whoa whoa berry. Hold your horses. In due time you will be trading one waiting line for another.

[Clint Abear]

07:24 AM on 07/02/2010

yur lucky to have VA insurance. buy some private insurance, or show up late at the VA, then u wont have to wait:)

[KOSMOCITIZEN]

09:53 PM on 07/01/2010

i find this info interesting,
the top 10 states with the highest rates of obesity:
1)mississipi------33.8%
2)alabama--------31.6%
3)tennessee-----31.5%
4)west virginia---31.3%
5)louisiana-------31.2%
6)oklahoma-----30.6%
7)kentucky------30.5%
8)arkansas------30.1%
9)south carolina--29.9%
10)north carolina--29.4%
the blue states vote for health care reform
red states need it the most, but opposed it.

[bytheC]

10:20 PM on 07/01/2010

Red states are welfare states too. They receive more federal tax dollars than they put in. Would that make the Goper base obese, lazy welfare recipients?

[James Shanks]

10:56 PM on 07/01/2010

You mean the very representatives that tell Americans they are lazy because they are in need of unemployment benefits?? Say it ain't so ...

[Low Prices are Good]

02:33 AM on 07/02/2010

not Texas...at least historically till that neo-con Rick Perry went on a Democrat like deficit spending spree.

[berryessence]

11:07 PM on 07/01/2010

YOU forgot GA

[Renee27]

09:27 PM on 07/01/2010

Todd Park Demonstrates HealthCare.gov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IDqUGQ5nW4

...I also like the "myhealthfinder" on the "Learn About Prevention" tab.

[SouthernJewel]

08:51 PM on 07/01/2010

VERY easy to navigate.
Informative and links work great to point a person to a local facility.

[Alliesue]

07:39 PM on 07/01/2010

I found one through Medical Mutual in Ohio. If I lost my healthcare I would have to pay 80.00 more than I am paying now. And that policy includes my spouse. That even includes prescriptions. I have to say it would be cheaper than my cobra through work. Cobra was 1,100 per month. Medical mutual was 488.00 per month. Sounds good to me.

[berryessence]

11:08 PM on 07/01/2010

Wow that's good.

[Renee27]

07:20 PM on 07/01/2010

I like it. Its very easy to navigate.

[JADodd]

06:46 PM on 07/01/2010

I am a small business owner looking at a 14% increase in premiums. I went to the HealthCare.gov website hoping to get the information I need to compare policies. Sadly, the information is not there. The site lists all the insurance companies providing policies in my area. However, there is no cost information yet - they say it will be available in October 2010, When I clicked on the link for the description of benefits, the site sent me to the companies' websites where I continue to face different formats for information and confusing technical terms. Comparison is impossible. At this point, the site is virtually useless for a small employer like me.

While the website is slick, I would give it an "F" for functionality.

[Clint Abear]

07:25 PM on 07/01/2010

try healthreform.gov u should get what u need there. healthcare.gov is for people i give it a A for amazzzzzzing

[ObamaSupporterPete]

07:50 PM on 07/01/2010

Pricing won't be posted until October. Also, I believe this is only for the individual market.

[ilovecandy]

06:45 PM on 07/01/2010

I tried it out. It is really easy to navigate and much better than other government sites.