healthcare.gov was a disaster for a combination of reasons. However, one of the primary reasons is had such a rough start was because FAR too many people were

healthcare.gov was a disaster for a combination of reasons. However, one of the primary reasons is had such a rough start was because FAR too many people were channelled into it. The individual states were supposed to set up their own systems that the Federal system would reimburse and channel people into. Places like California did so--and the experience was quite decent. The problem, of course, was the all the Red states refusing to set up a system and all their citizens wound up in the healthcare.gov system. Of course, the major problem with healthcare.gov was the same problem as with all government contracts--outsourcing. All contractors basically play "chicken" with the government--they take all the money they can up front and do as little work as they can until the very last moment. If they get really lucky, the program gets cancelled and they get to keep all the money having done no work. Normally, they get yelled at at some point and have to put in work while the schedule slips and slips. Occasionally, though, they wind up with a contract that they didn't do jack on that had a real deadline and the contractor winds up with egg on their face. This was healthcare.gov.