Here are three key changes people using HealthCare.gov will notice during the 2015 sign-up period, which starts Nov. 15, according to a report from The Washington Post.
1. Shorter application process. Whereas consumers used to face 76 online screens to apply for a health plan through HealthCare.gov, most new customers will now only need to work through 16 screens for a basic application. However, consumers with more complicated cases could face a longer sign-up process, according to the report.
2. Less prone to crashes. The old HealthCare.gov went down even when relatively few people were trying to use it at once. Federal officials have revamped it to handle at least 125,000 simultaneous users, although its actual performance capabilities haven’t yet been shown.
3. Window-shopping capabilities. Previously, consumers couldn’t “window shop” for health plans without creating an account. Now they can anonymously browse coverage options, according to the report. Still, people can’t search for plans by typing in the name of their physician.
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