Four weeks after launch, Milw. officials say few have signed up for ACA

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Four weeks after its launch, the website healthcare.gov is still plagued by glitches. In Milwaukee, experts are ready and able to help people sign up for health care. But so far, few have been successful when it comes to getting enrolled.

The chairs were empty in Milwaukee's Central Library on Wednesday, October 30th, in a lab reserved to help people navigate the health insurance marketplace.

Throughout October, foot traffic has come in at a slow trickle.

"Hasn't been huge but it's been steady.  I'd say we average between six and 12 people for each of the sessions we've had this month," Judy Pinger said.

A certified enrollment counselor was on standby, but has only signed up a handful of people due to the troubled launch of healthcare.gov.

Visitors to the website Wednesday could browse health care plans, but were not able to enroll.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, four weeks after the website's launch, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius fielded tough questions from lawmakers.

"You deserve better. I apologize," Sebelius said.

Sebelius said about $118 million has been spent on the website itself.

President Obama on Wednesday acknowledged the site's issues in a speech about the Affordable Care Act's potential and progress.

"I take full responsibility to make sure it gets fixed ASAP.  We are working overtime to improve it everyday," President Obama said.

Data on how many have enrolled through the website is unreliable so far.

Milwaukee's Health Commissioner says hundreds have reached out.

"People are establishing accounts. They are browsing. They are getting to the point where they are interacting with healthcare.gov even though it is taking some time," Milwaukee Health Commissioner Bevan Baker said.

Health care assistants at Central Library are told the website should be functioning by the end of November. Help is available at locations throughout the city through March.

At this time, there is no plan to extend the enrollment period for health care because of the website's glitches.