Tom Howell Jr.
Articles by Tom Howell Jr.
Just 3 percent of projected Obamacare enrollees have signed up: Study
Just 3 percent of those expected to eventually sign up for Obamacare's state-based health markets in a dozen states running their own markets have actually signed up so far, according to an analysis Monday from a health consultancy that predicted the pace will eventually pick up. Published November 11, 2013
GOP set to jump on low Obamacare enrollment numbers
The Obama administration is set to release Obamacare enrollment data this week, figures that promise to be low and likely will feed further into Republican attempts to discredit the health care law. Published November 10, 2013
GOP preps ‘Keep Your Plan’ bill after president’s Obamacare apology
House Republicans hope President Obama will follow up his apology late Thursday to Americans losing their existing health plans by supporting a bill they are offering that will let these same people maintain their coverage for another year. Published November 8, 2013
White House, Republicans spar over Obamacare record
The Obama administration said Friday it is seeing mixed progress in fixing the federal Obamacare website, as Republicans piled on criticism by saying taxpayers should get a refund for the broken $400 million Internet portal and that new numbers indicate that few people have enrolled in the insurance market for the District of Columbia tied to the health care law. Published November 8, 2013
Obama: ‘I am sorry they are finding themselves in this situation’
After sidestepping the issue for weeks, President Obama on Thursday apologized to Americans who are losing their health insurance despite his repeated and emphatic promises that it wouldn't happen. Published November 7, 2013
Fire her! Ten Republican senators press Obama to boot Sebelius
Ten Republican senators asked President Obama on Thursday to fire his top health official because the problems tied to the federal Obamacare website are "profound, systemic and undeniable." Published November 7, 2013
Sebelius hits the road to defend Obamacare
Hoping to boost Obamacare's popularity despite its flawed rollout, President Obama's top health official will visit Atlanta on Friday to promote the health care law's benefits and meet with people who are educating Georgians about the reforms. Published November 7, 2013
Tea party group slams GOP ‘establishment’ over Va. losses
A leading tea party group Thursday took on "the GOP establishment" for "abandoning a winnable race in a key swing state by withholding support" for Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli. Published November 7, 2013
Last-minute bulletin: Obamacare website couldn’t handle user volume over 1,000
House Republicans released a document late Wednesday that suggests the Obamacare website was unable to handle much more than 1,000 simultaneous users, casting doubt on early White House claims that the site was overrun by an unexpectedly high level of interest in the reforms. Published November 6, 2013
Sebelius apologizes, but says Obamacare delay is not an option
President Obama's top health official told the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday she is responsible for the disastrous rollout of the Obamacare markets and that early enrollment numbers "are going to be very low," but ruled out delays to the law because sick Americans are relying on the reforms. Published November 6, 2013
Point person on Obamacare website assures senators on code, security
President Obama's point person in implementing the new health care law assured senators Tuesday that the federal Obamacare website is salvageable and secure, even as her agency acknowledged it had to fix software code after a man in North Carolina reported he stumbled upon another man's personal information. Published November 5, 2013
Obamacare official: Bugs can be fixed
Marilyn Tavenner, President Obama's point woman in implementing the new health care law, told Congress on Tuesday the new health care law is salvageable and that repairs to the federal Obamacare website will coincide with an expected rush of enrollees by early December, even as GOP lawmakers declare Obamacare a failure. Published November 5, 2013
Senate Democrats kick off scrutiny of flawed health care law rollout
Sen. Tom Harkin said Tuesday that lawmakers should take a deep breath and realize the health care law may offer a lifeline to those who need it most, even if the HealthCare.gov website that links many Americans to coverage is in dire straits. Published November 5, 2013
Problems and excuses mount for Obamacare
The systemwide defects in Obamacare mounted Monday, from compounding enrollment problems to soaring insurance cancellations to breaches of privacy, as the Obama administration struggled to contain the political damage and repair its laughingstock health care website. Published November 4, 2013
Obamacare website to go offline daily, during early hours
A federal website tied to Obamacare has suffered from unexpected network outages and other hiccups, but at least one recurring problem will be intentional. Published November 4, 2013
Kentucky Obamacare plan faces problems
Kentucky has been held up as one of the success stories of Obamacare, with its state-run exchanges running well and signing up thousands for health coverage. Published November 4, 2013
Obamacare enrollment by paper and phone is no better than website: report
Internal memos from the Obama administration suggest Obamacare's Web problems are holding up the entire enrollment process, including the phone and paper options that President Obama and top officials are pushing as an alternative to the troubled HealthCare.gov website, according to a report by ABC News. Published November 4, 2013
Medicaid preference could strap states under health care law
House Republicans suspect the White House has more Obamacare data than it is letting on, sparking a tug of war that is playing out amid fears that Medicaid enrollment could far outpace requests for private insurance under President Obama's program. Published November 3, 2013
Key House committee threatens Obama admin. with subpoena over health care
House Republicans suspect the White House has more Obamacare data than they're letting on, a tug-of-war that's playing out amid new fears Medicaid enrollment could far outpace requests for private insurance under President Obama's program. Published November 1, 2013
Key Hill Republican demands Obamacare sign-up numbers now
The Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee on Friday demanded Obamacare enrollment figures from the Obama administration, citing reports that federal officials and contractors discussed the trickle of people gaining coverage under the law as early as Oct. 1, the first day the web-based insurance markets went live. Published November 1, 2013
