HHS Secretary Makes Pitch For Health Law Enrollment In Columbus

The nation's top health care official stopped in Columbus Thursday promising consumers that sign-ups on the federal healthcare exchange will go much better this year. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, says she's hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's website meltdown at HealthCare.gov that caused enrollment delays. "We know there were problems last year. And some of the things we've done differently this year. We had ten days of testing last year. This year we've had five weeks," says Burwell. Ohio is one of 34 states using the federal healthcare exchange to enroll uninsured residents and re-enroll consumers who signed up last year. To get health care coverage beginning in January, consumers have to sign up by December 15th. Burwell says it will be faster, easier and secure. "We have tested a number of different things through-out and we're very focused on security, making sure that people's information is secure," Burwell says. Burwell's visit to Columbus is part of a larger effort to reach the uninsured. That includes 160-thousand Columbus residents. And, Mayor Michael Coleman says only a fraction of those know about enrollment. "Only 11 percent know that open enrollment begins on November 15th," says Coleman. The website this year includes more plans from insurers. Burwell anticipates 9 million paying customers will enroll for 2015. That's below the congressional budget office estimate of 13 million paying consumers. For those consumers who bought insurance on the federal exchange last year, Burwell encourages them to compare new plans. "Because December 15th you will be auto-enrolled and you'll be enrolled in your existing plan," Burwell says. Burwell adds consumers can window shop health care plans on HealthCare.gov even before open enrollment begins on Saturday.