Juliette Mullin, Editor…but up to 40% of the site still needs to be built.
But there's more to that story: Although the front-end aspects of the website are reportedly completed, Henry Chao—the Obama administration official who managed the technical development of the federal exchange—on Tuesday said much of the "back office" work remains unfinished.
Overall, Chao estimated his team has yet to finish 30% to 40% of the overall website. For example, developers continue to work on a system to send payments to insurers and a component that confirms the exchanges and insurers are receiving accurate, matching enrollment data.
Sebelius: Nov. 30 is not a 'magic' date
Also on Tuesday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned Americans that HHS's self-imposed Nov. 30 deadline to have HealthCare.gov fixed is "not a magic go, no go date."
Sebelius said, "We have some very specific things we know we need to complete by the 30th and that punch list is getting knocked out every week." However, she added, "We recognize that there will still be periodic spikes, glitches, whatever that people will experience."
Similarly, the White House on Monday said that the website would be considered a success if 80% of online visitors are able to purchase a health insurance plan. Press Secretary Jay Carney said that HealthCare.gov would be "vastly improved" on Dec. 1, but that one in five visitors to the site still will not be able to enroll in coverage because of:
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Technical difficulties with the site;
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Personal unfamiliarity with computers; or
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Complex family situations.
Does the site have security problems?
Four technology experts on Tuesday said they do not believe the federal health insurance website currently is secure.
In their testimony before the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, three of the experts said they would recommend shutting the website down until fixes have been made, while the fourth said he did not have enough information to make such a decision.
However, Chao says that the federal marketplace had met all security standards and that there were measures in place to continually identify and eliminate potential threats.
While we're waiting
As CMS works to fix the website, White House officials and insurers are debating several strategies to make it easier for U.S. residents who were planning to shop through the federal insurance exchange, the Wall Street Journal reports. The administration is specifically reviewing whether insurers should have a more direct role in assisting with enrollment.
Under current rules, insurers are allowed to enroll individuals who do not qualify for federal subsidies, but those who are eligible must go through the exchanges to be verified.
- Want to know more about the state of HealthCare.gov? Check out our sister website, American Health Line.