Maryland Health Connection Users: ‘Site Keeps Crashing,’ ‘Design is Terrible’

For many of those seeking online information about health care options, the Maryland Health Connection website hasn’t delivered as promised.

“Finding a MD Health Connection user who has successfully signed up is like a bigfoot sighting. There may have been a sighting but it has not been confirmed,” joked Thomas Cunningham on Annapolis Patch’s Facebook page.

State officials recognize that there are problems with the state’s online health insurance marketplace and are in the process of discussing solutions.

Here’s what Patch readers across the state had to say on Facebook.

“The site keeps crashing,” wrote Linda Martin on Bel Air Patch’s Facebook page.  “I tried last week and couldn't do anything … I for one am grateful for the ACA, and need it!”

“Tried for 30 minutes, couldn't get any info after getting past putting in info, wrote Tim Phillips on Perry Hall Patch’s Facebook page. “The usability design is terrible.”

“Just filled out all of the info and it said it didn’t have any info for me,” wrote Courtney McMullen Mitchell on Bowie Patch’s Facebook page.

“It's been two weeks, and I still have not been able to find out what my costs are going to be,” wrote Beth Henderson Gray on Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch’s Facebook page. “And lest someone think I am some sort of internet idiot, I am not. I am an IT professional with 30 years of experience. I've been able to register, but not get any response when researching costs.”

Some Marylanders said they were able to get information about health plans but said the options weren’t as “affordable” as they’d hoped.

“It gave me choices ranging from approximately $600-900 a month. Exactly why I couldn’t afford it in the first place,” wrote Jennifer Morrison on Bel Air Patch’s Facebook page. “And of course I don't qualify for any assistance.”

“$80/month for 50,000 deductible: what's the point of that,” wrote Vicki Anderson Welch on Glen Burnie Patch’s Facebook page.

“I have discovered that our premium will almost double,” wrote Jim Hall on Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch’s Facebook page.

Others didn’t like having to enter private information without knowing if the website was truly secure.

“I tried it and it couldn't verify my identity,” wrote Sonya Muhly on Bowie Patch’s Facebook page.

Ted Toal encountered the same problem: “Have not been able to get past the identity verification from day one,” he wrote on Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch’s Facebook page.

“I work in healthcare and tried a few days ago to access the site. I didn't get very far,” wrote Julian Hernández on Annapolis Patch’s Facebook page.

“I couldn't even compare health plans without entering a ton of personal info, including my SSN.”

“I successfully got to the page to enter my info, then the page froze for over 30 minutes, got tired and shut it down,” wrote Terry Leftridge on Havre de Grace Patch’s Facebook page. “Starting the next day, I received phone calls from no less than 4 health insurance sales people. Some local, some not.”

Will it work? The jury's out.

“It's too early to tell,” wrote Michael Cleary on Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch’s Facebook page. "This will take time."

See related stories:

• State Officials To Discuss Maryland Health Connection
• Maryland Health Care Exchange Works Out Kinks
• Maryland Health Dis-Connection? ‘It’s NOT Ready’