Sebelius: ‘I Was Not Aware’ Of Recommendation To Delay HealthCare.gov Launch

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius gestures while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the difficulties plag... Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius gestures while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on the difficulties plaguing the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. The Obama Administration claims the botched rollout was the result of contractors failing to live up to expectations – not bad management at HHS. As the public face of President Barack Obama's signature health care program, Sec. Sebelius has become the target for attacks over its botched rollout with Republicans, and even some Democrats, calling for her to resign. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) MORE LESS
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Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified Wednesday that she was not aware that insurers who tested HealthCare.gov had recommended delaying its launch.

The Washington Post reported on Oct. 21 that, according to an insurance IT executive, the insurers testing the site had recommended the delay because the site was still experiencing significant problems during testing.

“I was not aware that they recommended a delay,” Sebelius told the House Energy and Commerce Committee at Wednesday’s oversight hearing. “But I don’t think anyone ever estimated the degree to which we’ve had problems with the system, and certainly the contracting partners did not.”

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