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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials say the launch of the state's health exchange went smoothly Saturday.
Idaho didn't have time to build its own website before enrollment began last year, so it relied on the federal website, which had a rocky start full of technical glitches.
But on Saturday, Idaho launched its own website at yourhealthidaho.org, and the first day of open enrollment was "absolutely flawless," Executive Director Pat Kelly said Saturday night.
"Traffic was immediate once we opened and steady all day long," he said.
The state's exchange website is part of the Affordable Care Act. Idaho is the first state to transition from the federal marketplace to a state-run version.
The state-run exchanges are facing pressure to handle a surge of sign-ups. Last year, 76,000 Idaho residents enrolled within six months. This year the enrollment period ends in three months, on Feb. 15.
Almost 200 plans provided by nine carriers are available on the state exchange.
Kelly declined to say how many people signed up for coverage Saturday, saying Your Health Idaho will report those numbers monthly.
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