ACA enrollment extended after technical difficulties affected website

The deadline to sign up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov was extended following reports that the website wasn’t functioning well enough to allow people to enroll. The previous deadline was Dec 15. The website of the Affordable Care Act allows thousands of people to look through various options for health insurance and subsequently sign up. People reported that the website was facing technical issues, including not loading the login page. The telephone number to get help with the site was also log-jammed due to the high volume of people trying to get help. As the deadline for enrollment drew closer, several prominent figures, including former CMS administrator Andy Slavitt and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass.) called for current CMS officials to extend the deadline. The new deadline is 3 a.m. E.T. Dec 18.