1) WSJ: More on Silver Spring; 2) Total costs maybe High3) Medicaid enrollment changes

Lots of significant developments

1) Health-Site Snafus Plague Maryland Enrollments Trickle In at State-Run Insurance Exchange, Once Hoped to Serve as a Model for Others

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303330204579246252964639452?mod=ITP_pageone_1

This article was based on our Silver Spring enrollment fair.  

Here are my photos from the fair.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42288250@N08/sets/72157638522070866/

More info about the fair was included in Saturday's blog.

http://tinyurl.com/hra120413ssfair

2)  

a) On Health Exchanges, Premiums May Be Low, but Other Costs Can Be High 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/09/us/on-health-exchanges-premiums-may-be-low-but-other-costs-can-be-high.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes

b) High Deductibles Fuel New Worries of Health-Law Sticker Shock: Some Lower-Cost Plans Carry Steep Deductibles, Posing Financial Challenge

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303330204579246211560398876?mod=WSJ_hps_LEFTTopStories

3)  Medicaid Workaround Bypasses Healthcare.gov to Transmit Applicant Data

Very glad to see that the States can go around Healthcare.gov to enroll folks. Something I have been advocating for awhile. Hope Maryland either can also do or change quickly.

4)

Amid Health Law Uproar, Optimism and Relief. 

5) One ripple effect of healthcare.gov troubles: growing role of agents, growing exposure for plans. m.startribune.com/?id=234953041

As reported on Saturday, @GetCoveredUS: Know someone who could use a hand with their health insurance app? Tell them they can get free help: gtcvrd.am/1bq5J8k” 

When I plugged 20901 into the locator, I got Deco Recovery Management, Landover office.  They do cover insurance. I just spoke to them. They have been trained by the Feds via an online course to serve as navigators in South Carolina. No listings for Baltimore or NYC. 

Under the circumstances, we will need these agents.  Hope HHS figures it out and the public is made aware of their availability.

6).  "Are you people on crack cocaine?" Md. health exchange contractors' in-fighting plagues site's launch. bsun.md/1ctYRr4

7) Charles Ornstein ‏@charlesornstein 30m

Here's the press release from NY State of Health exchange: http://www.healthbenefitexchange.ny.gov/news/press-release-more-100000-new-yorkers-have-enrolled-health-insurance-plans-through-ny-state … (Kudos for such regular updates!)