by Alicia Freese vtdigger.org Paper applications for Vermont Health Connect insurance plans are piling up. The applications ‘ offered as an alternative to people who wanted to avoid the state’s glitch-ridden website ‘ are being processed by the Department for Children and Families.
DCF Commissioner Dave Yacovone. Photo by Alicia Freese/VTDigger
There is a backlog of 1,210 applications, some of which date back to as early as Oct. 30, Commissioner Dave Yacovone said.
Paper applications continue to arrive at a pace of approximately 100 per day, and the department needs to process them all by Dec. 23, in order for people’s coverage to take effect at the start of 2014.
DCF only handles the paper applications and only for people entering the exchange as families and individuals.
Yacovone said the volume of work isn’t a surprise to him. ‘I think the flow is what we had anticipated,’ he said.
In fact, the department staffed up in expectation of the increased workload. To supplement the 45 permanent employees, who previously processed Catamount, VHAP, and Medicaid applications, DCF hired 80 temporary workers.
The backlog exists despite the department’s beefed up capacity because a problem with the Vermont Health Connect website prevented DCF staff from processing applications until Oct. 23, according to Yacovone.
Yacovone is invoking a mandatory overtime requirement for the entire staff, starting Thursday and ending when the processing is complete.
‘I’ve got a great staff. They are very dedicated and caring, but this is an important time to get these processed because we are on a deadline,’ he said.
Yacovone described the strategy as an ‘all hands on deck approach.’ Asked whether the situation would be resolved by Dec. 23, the commissioner responded, ‘We’re going to make it happen one way or the other.’
Obama Care signups by state Dec 2013. Graph courtesy of governor's office.