At a press conference announcing a new retail health insurance storefront, Governor Dannel Malloy called the rollout of Obamacare in Connecticut a success. But the Democrat said problems with the federal health care website have hurt the state's enrollment.
Connecticut is one of the states that created its own health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act. Malloy said about 9,500 people have signed up so far. But he also said that number should be higher -- and he blames bad press of the federal exchange.
"We have people reaching out wondering when the problem is going to be straightened out so that they can sign up," he said. "I hope that the federal folks get their act together in the remainder of the month because I'm tired of sharing their bad news interrupting our good news."
Malloy spoke to reporters at a new storefront where Connecticut residents can sign up for insurance in person. "Do I follow the discussion on a federal level? The answer is yes, I follow it," he said. "Do I have a smile on my face while I follow it? The answer is yes, I have a smile on my face, because I know we got it right."
The state has roughly 340,000 people without health insurance. Malloy's goal is to enroll around 100,000 or so in the first year. So he's ten percent of the way there.
