It's Back: 'Not Perfect' HealthCare.gov Now Open

HealthCare.gov is back in action. As of yesterday, visitors can "window-shop" for plans, seeing what's available before open enrollment begins on Saturday, USA Today reports. Are we in for the technological mess that plagued the site last year? "Things will not be perfect," acknowledges the site's CEO, but the search will be "simpler, faster, and more intuitive." For insurers, though, dealing with the site remains problematic, and that could lead to issues with automatic re-enrollment, Politico reports: Some consumers could end up with the wrong plan or multiple plans.

Fortunately, tech experts who helped fix the site last year are at the ready should anything go wrong, Politico notes. Automatic re-enrollment will occur for most people who enrolled last year but take no action this year, the New York Times reports. Whether you're covered or not, it's worth a look at the site to check your options, experts say. "There are a lot of changes that are price declines," says a health care advocate; studies appear to bear out her claim. The new open enrollment period will last three months, compared with six months last time, the Times adds. Enrollment begins as the subsidies in many plans face a Supreme Court challenge. (More HealthCare.gov stories.)