Mark Jaquith, a WordPress developer and web publishing consultant, decided to give the HealthCare.gov “gauntlet” another run Tuesday afternoon, and he live-tweeted his experience. The site might be running smoothly for the “vast majority” of Americans, but Jaquith isn’t in that vast majority.
Today seems like a nice day to attempt for the… 5th time, I think… to get through the http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 gauntlet.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 is much faster now. But of course speed was only a minor hurdle for the site. Fast doesn’t mean I’ll succeed.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
I have a notice available! But I think it’s a tautological notice, and this little box is, in fact, the notice. pic.twitter.com/LOjjQB561B
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Real Americans™ don’t have fáncÿ accented characters in their names. pic.twitter.com/2skBHgHUVE
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
1. Which grandmother?!
2. How many unique American grandmother nicknames do you actually think there are? pic.twitter.com/k0GzCrJKKd— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Now http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 is telling me useless stuff via text message. pic.twitter.com/5bgmlEz8JX
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Note that http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 doesn’t require you to be homeless. That’s optional. Good to know. pic.twitter.com/yR5N13wP8U
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
So, never, then? pic.twitter.com/lRrMxKEFIR
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Recommended
But… clicking “Save & Continue” is what made this message pop up! pic.twitter.com/HUZLLw5dMm
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 now says I can call a number to verify my identity. Scans of my passport are no good; a phone call should sort it!
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
@markjaquith You’re not really uploading personal info, are you?
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) December 3, 2013
@allahpundit I want skin in the game when this thing gets hacked. Identity theft as performance art.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Oh god, I’m calling.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Called the phone verification number. Was asked for a reference #. Not my Application #. Need to go through whole application again for that
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Was told that if I can’t get a reference number, I’ll have to call a different number for “manual verification”. Isn’t THIS manual?
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Completing the http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 application AGAIN so I can glimpse some rumored ephemeral ID non-verification reference number.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
The “Review & Sign” step is clickable, but they don’t let you skip any steps. Even though I’m changing nothing. pic.twitter.com/jL30dptKyJ
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Got done clicking “Save & Continue” a zillion times. C’mon reference number. C’mon reference— NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! pic.twitter.com/CUeZ1zX3Vn
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
As suspected, the reference number on “the same screen as our phone number” was a fool’s errand. It’s not here. pic.twitter.com/7qU9K1h9Xy
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Also, “maximum attempts for verifying your identity online”, yet it’s prompting me to… verify my identity online. pic.twitter.com/WNksjwUM3K
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
When signed out of http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3: “Log In”. Okay, fine.
When signed in: “Logout”. ಠ_ಠ
Plus, it keeps “logouting” me randomly.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
@jpetersen I know. I’m doing this for science. ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?!
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
“If you’re hearing an echo, get health insurance with ear care coverage.”
I’M TRYING. pic.twitter.com/5MgSP59iHN
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 accepts .xml documents for proof of identity. I whipped a little something up. pic.twitter.com/msG6tXd6Ki
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Entering live chat to see if they have some magic way of finding my ID-non-verification reference number.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Live Chat: “that would mean that you would need to fill out a new application if you do not have that reference ID number.”
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
So apparently this reference ID is only shown once, at the end of your application. If you miss it, you have to completely start over.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
I wonder if http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 not working counts as a pre-existing condition.
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
Today’s not the day after all.
Admitting http://t.co/HR9enYw2S3 defeat for the night. And here was my November attempt, if you missed it. http://t.co/nkVUP3Pnut
— Mark Jaquith (@markjaquith) December 3, 2013
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