Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged “frustrating” problems Wednesday with the new health-care law’s Web site and pledged that they would be fixed “as soon as possible.” She offer an apology for the site’s troubled launch, while also attributing the breakdowns to private-sector contractors.
“I am as frustrated and angry as anyone with the flawed launch of HealthCare.gov,” Sebelius told the committee in an opening statement. Addressing Americans who want to buy health insurance but have been stymied by the Web site, she said: “You deserve better. I apologize. I’m accountable to you for fixing these problems, and I’m committed to earning your confidence back by fixing the site.” She pledged that the problems are “fixable.”
Graphic
A look at the consumer's route through the HealthCare.gov website and the potential failure points.
Video
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said at a congressional hearing Wednesday that the clause determining if Americans could keep their old insurance plan under Obamacare did not change.
Sebelius made the statements before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in her first public appearance before lawmakers to publicly explain the problems with the launch of HealthCare.gov.
[Read the latest hearing updates here.]
In opening the hearing, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the committee chairman, said, “This is more than a Web site problem. .
“I am as frustrated and angry as anyone with the flawed launch of HealthCare.gov,” Sebelius told the committee in an opening statement. Addressing Americans who want to buy health insurance but have been stymied by the Web site, she said: “You deserve better. I apologize. I’m accountable to you for fixing these problems, and I’m committed to earning your confidence back by fixing the site.” She pledged that the problems are “fixable.”
Graphic
A look at the consumer's route through the HealthCare.gov website and the potential failure points.
Video
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said at a congressional hearing Wednesday that the clause determining if Americans could keep their old insurance plan under Obamacare did not change.
Sebelius made the statements before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in her first public appearance before lawmakers to publicly explain the problems with the launch of HealthCare.gov.
[Read the latest hearing updates here.]
In opening the hearing, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the committee chairman, said, “This is more than a Web site problem. .