The number of people in Winnebago County seeking local help while signing up for to buy health insurance through a federal website continues rising along with frustration over the online marketplace’s unfixed software malfunctions.
Those tasked with giving one-on-one help to county residents seeking health coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchange said they’ve had to focus on paper or over-the-phone eligibility applications. Few have successfully made it beyond that point to actually begin shopping for insurance.
“We just had a successful application go over the phone (Tuesday) afternoon in Winnebago County. That’s fascinating news because we haven’t had that in a while,” said Patricia Sarvela, development director with Partnership Community Health Center.
“The sheer fact that we talked to somebody, the application was entered into the system and the system didn’t crash… is great,” she said.
