The updated HealthCare.gov website is set to be relaunched on Nov. 15, and it features a window-shopping tool that will assist the public in selecting coverage.
Federal officials added the window-shopping tool on Sunday so that the public can read throug health insurance policies and premiums prior to enrolment. The site encountered technical problems last year during the sign-up process, including issues with the income and personal information verification.
The administration hired 14,000 call center representatives to help people during the enrolment period that will last until Feb. 15, 2015. As early as now, policyholders can use the window-shopping tool so they can make up their minds before the enrolment period begins.
Policyholders who will not make any changes to their existing plans will automatically retain their current policies.
"We are strongly encouraging our customers to return to HealthCare.gov ... Shop and compare. The majority will be able to save money," particularly those who may have overlooked available federal tax credits last year, Kevin Counihan, chief executive officer of the federal health insurance marketplace, told Reuters.
In preparation of the re-enrolment period, the Supreme Court will revisit the tax credits of policyholders from 37 states that will subsidize the costs of the premiums so that low-income residents can also sign up.
"We believe consumers should be very confident in the subsidies being offered," Andy Slavitt, a principal deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said to the Wall Street Journal.
The government is expecting about five million people who enrolled last year to return to the site to update their information and switch to better health coverage. The government is confident that the site is ready to accommodate the sudden surge of returnees and new applicants.
"We have built the website to withstand as if everybody does come back," Slavitt added. "I think we've hit all of the critical deadlines that we've set over the summer."
