Massachusetts will seek another $80 million in federal funding for its new state-based Obamacare website, bringing the total cost of the problem-plagued project to a whopping $254 million, officials said yesterday.
That includes up to $110 million for Minnesota-based information technology consultant Optum to replace the beleaguered website CGI of Montreal built to offer all state residents health insurance under the federal Affordable Care Act.
"That does leave me speechless," said state Rep. Jeffrey Sanchez (D-Jamaica Plain), who chairs the Joint Committee on Public Health. "I understand the complexity of the project. At the same time, that's a pretty big price tag to get out of a deal (with CGI). Whether it's federal or state dollars, it's still taxpayer money."
And with only three months to go before open enrollment begins Nov. 15, the new site still has glitches.
During a demonstration at yesterday's Health Insurance Connector Authority meeting, Jonathan Gruber, a board member and MIT economics professor, noted that an out-of-pocket-cost calculator wasn't functional. He also questioned the phrasing of some questions the website poses to consumers.
"'Do you want financial assistance?' is kind of just — all of a sudden it comes up. I have no idea what it means," Gruber said. "I have no idea what I'm signing myself up for if I get it."
State Obamacare czar Maydad Cohen said there is enough time to fix any problems with the site, which features a "single front door, one place for everybody to use" as they shop for insurance or enroll in MassHealth.
The state still has to reach between 400,000 and 450,000 consumers in temporary or legacy coverage programs before Nov. 15, however, so that they'll know that they have to take action to maintain their coverage, said Jason Lefferts, a Health Connector spokesman.
Those numbers include approximately 267,000 people who tried to apply for subsidized coverage during or since the last open enrollment period and are now in a temporary Medicaid coverage program, at a cost of about $200 million to the state, said Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor.
The state plans to reach those people through advertising, mailings and call centers, and by partnering with the consumer-advocacy group Health Care for All to knock on 200,000 doors.
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