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Strike four?

Regular readers of this space will know I have been chronicling the failures of the “4 ways to get marketplace coverage.” For example, in addition to the website (which is broken), we have documented that the 1-800 number doesn’t work – and that the “navigators” also can’t sign you up (without a working Healthcare.gov website).

As you might have guessed, an investigation into the fourth option, mail, was in order. And to continue the sports metaphor, they’re now 0-for-4.

Try filing out this application. Really. I’ll wait. You’re going to burn a lot of calories in the process. And here’s the funny part: Even though you can begin the process now via mail, you won’t be able to actually sign up for a plan without a working website or 1-800 number. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

You’d probably have to be an accountant to understand the application. But even after completing the pages and pages of questions, the process is only just beginning. The application only tells them if you’re eligible.

See “step 6? of the instructions (and note the highlighted part) below, which reads: “You’ll get information on how to enroll in a plan (if you’re eligible) when you get your eligibility results.”

After completing the sixth step on the application — and sending it in (and assuming it arrives), you will next be contacted with eligibility results.

And assuming you are, in fact, eligible, you’ll still have to go to Healthcare.gov or call the 1-800 number to select that plan. (As the healthcare.gov website says: “Once you get your eligibility notice, you can either go online to compare, choose, and enroll in a plan or contact our call center.)

Go online? What’s the point of the mail alternative as a website workaround if you still have to go online?

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