Press Releases

Hoosier lawmakers sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today requesting information on the number of Hoosiers currently enrolled in the health care exchange.  Over the past three weeks, numerous malfunctions and problems have been reported with the website, preventing applicants from successfully enrolling in the health care exchange.

“We have received numerous reports from Hoosiers who have been unable to enroll due to website malfunctions as well as complaints from Hoosiers who can no longer afford the new premium amounts.  As we work to assist these constituents, it is important that we are able to provide them accurate data regarding the health insurance exchange,” wrote lawmakers.

Since Saturday, roughly 476,000 applications have been filed in state-run and federally-run health insurance exchanges that started October 1st.  These filed applications do not represent the number of individuals who have actually obtained coverage through the exchange.  The Administration has released no information to the public on this figure.  Low enrollment numbers have been largely attributed to technical problems, such as trouble creating accounts and confusing error messages.

This Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has scheduled a hearing to examine the health care law’s rollout.  To date, Secretary Sebelius has refused to testify, despite written requests from the committee to reconsider the invitation.  

Full text of the letter:

October 21, 2013

The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary of Health and Human Services
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Sebelius,

We are writing to request information about the number of Hoosiers who have applied for and enrolled in insurance plans on the health insurance exchange since its launch on October 1, 2013.

Please provide the total number of applicants in Indiana as well as the number of applicants in each Indiana congressional district.  Please also provide the total number of enrollees in Indiana as well as the number of enrollees in each Indiana congressional district.

We have received numerous reports from Hoosiers who have been unable to enroll due to website malfunctions as well as complaints from Hoosiers who can no longer afford the new premium amounts.  As we work to assist these constituents, it is important that we are able to provide them accurate data regarding the health insurance exchange.

We look forward to receiving the requested information in a timely fashion and appreciate your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jackie Walorski 

Senator Dan Coats

Rep. Susan Brooks

Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D.

Rep. Luke Messer

Rep. Todd Rokita

Rep. Marlin Stutzman 

Rep. Todd Young