Open Enrollment In Obamacare Underway Now

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Who could forget the botched rollout of the Affordable Care Act a couple of years ago? Thousands were blocked from getting health insurance because of glitches in the system. Now open enrollment in Obamacare begins again for the uninsured.

As Gigi Barnett explains, the push to enroll millions across the country is on.

Maryland's affordable health care website crashed back in 2013 when thousands logged on to enroll.

"It's discouraging and frustrating," said Andrew Morton.

This weekend, the website will see plenty of traffic again as open enrollment into Obamacare begins. If you already have a plan, no worries, enrollment automatically renews.

Evergreen Healthcare CEO Dr. Peter Beilenson says two types of people will need to log on.

"Those who don't like their policy or don't like their insurance if they've gotten on the exchange in the past or those who are going to go on for the first time," he said.

Last year--in the website's second year--more than 100,000 Marylanders got onto the exchange to get affordable coverage.

Health care workers say there may be fewer people searching for plans this year. One reason may be the website's reputation.

"People who may have tried to get on in the past may have been so disgruntled from having trouble getting on in the past that they may not try again," said Beilenson.

Beilenson says every year, the state's health care exchange gets better. Open enrollment ends January 31.

The Department of Health and Human Services estimates about 10 million people will be enrolled in Obamacare nationwide by the end of next year.