Oregon's new health insurance marketplace-- part of the Affordable Care Act-- has run into some glitches on its launch day. Cover Oregon's online system is not functioning properly.
Cover Oregon is not correctly determining eligibility for tax credits, the Oregon Health Plan and Healthy Kids. The problem is expected to be fixed in a couple of weeks. Jason Davis with Lane County Health and Human Services says it's possible to get health coverage, just not through the website.
Davis: "Individuals interested in enrolling for the next couple of weeks have to go through an agent or a community partner in order to enroll and then it will be sort of open access anybody can just jump on the website and do it themselves, self service after that point."
Consumers can find certified insurance agents or community organizations to help start the process. There's also a toll-free hotline available at the Cover Oregon site. Individuals have until December 15th to enroll for coverage that begins January 1st. [I'm Rachael McDonald reporting.]