Ayotte Presses HHS for NH Healthcare Sign Up Numbers

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, on Oct. 21 requested information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding how many New Hampshire citizens have successfully enrolled in the new health insurance exchange.  In a letter sent by Ayotte to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Ayotte asked the department to provide information about how many New Hampshire citizens were able to access, create an account, and enroll in a health insurance plan through the New Hampshire exchange.  Ayotte said the Administration has an obligation to disclose such information given the widespread technical problems with the exchange rollout.  

Full text of the letter below:

Dear Secretary Sebelius:

With hundreds of millions of dollars having been spent to create health insurance exchanges across the country, taxpayers deserve an honest, immediate and full accounting of how the exchanges are functioning.  I write seeking a status report on the implementation of the health care law in New Hampshire.

In only a matter of months, all Americans will be required to purchase health insurance or face stiff tax penalties. However, published reports indicate that the new insurance exchanges are confusing and severely flawed, making it very difficult for Americans to comply with this new law.

Effective oversight requires transparency, and I have become increasingly concerned about the administration’s refusal to answer specific questions regarding technical problems with the exchange rollout – as well as its refusal to provide enrollment figures until next month. That is unacceptable.

Having received significant negative feedback about Obamacare from New Hampshire citizens, who in many cases have been unable to access the exchanges and report being unable to keep their doctors, there is an urgent need for answers. As such, on behalf of the people of New Hampshire, I am requesting answers to the following questions no later than October 28, 2013:

1.  How many individuals have tried to access and create an account through the New Hampshire health insurance exchange?

2.  How many people in New Hampshire were actually able to sign up for a health insurance plan through the New Hampshire health insurance exchange?

3.  How long will it take for the exchange’s technical problems to be resolved?

I look forward to your prompt response to my questions. The American people and Congress deserve to hear directly from those responsible for implementing the law.