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Former Microsoft Exec To Lead HealthCare.gov

Posted by Soulskill on from the blue-screen-of-actual-death dept.

Antipater writes "NBCNews reports that Kurt DelBene, former head of Microsoft's Office division, will take over operations of Healthcare.gov on Wednesday. DelBene will replace Jeffrey Zients, who stepped in to lead the team fixing the health insurance website when it crashed and burned on its Oct. 1 launch. Zients is set to take over next month as senior White House economic adviser from Gene Sperling.'"

13 of 214 comments (clear)

  1. New meaning to blue screen of death? by xobyte · · Score: 5, Funny

    My healthcare BSOD...

    1. Re:New meaning to blue screen of death? by roc97007 · · Score: 5, Informative

      > Those who complained about their canceled plans actually got better plans - less cost and more coverage.

      Um, really? We didn't. Our plans (wife and I) were canceled because the company didn't want to pay the cadillac tax. For a replacement, we get higher cost, and much higher deductible. The strategy, as I understand it, is that you are supposed to live off your FSA for the first five months or so before your coverage actually starts paying for stuff. This is a definition of "better plans" of which I am unaware.

      --
      Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
    2. Re:New meaning to blue screen of death? by mspohr · · Score: 4, Informative

      So... blame your cheapass company for dropping your insurance coverage.
      They didn't have to buy you a "cadillac" policy... they could have bought you a regular policy but they are using the "blame it on Obamacare" excuse for screwing you.

      --
      I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    3. Re:New meaning to blue screen of death? by Venotar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The socialists in Canada pay almost $4500 per capita for healthcare, or more than 11% of GDP. Because of the waste inherent in socialist systems, we should not be surprised that healthcare costs in Canada are 7th highest on the planet, yet for all this outrageous expense, they are only tied for 4th in life expectancy and something like 24th in infant mortality

      I'm sorry - how is 7th highest cost for 4th highest life expetancy not a deal?
      If life expectancy was less than 7th, I might see your point. Beyond that, the US already spends 17.2% of it's GDP on healthcare (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_the_United_States) and has an infant mortality rate around 34th in the world , so moving to an infant mortality rate of 24th in the world for a cost of 11% of GDP is a huge improvement for your southern neighbors.

  2. Clippy? by KoshClassic · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will the web site feature a seemingly-friendly, but obnoxious-as-hell talking paper clip that pops up whenever its unwanted?

    --
    Understanding is a three edged sword. - Ambassador Kosh Naranek, Babylon 5
  3. Polilitical Link by jasnw · · Score: 5, Informative

    He is the spouse (husband, I assume) of Congressperson Karen DelBene (D-WA), also an ex-MS person.

    1. Re:Polilitical Link by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 5, Insightful

      We don't say "Congressperson" anymore because that implies these are people, and not soulless monsters. The correct term is "Congresswench".

      --
      Support my political activism on Patreon.
    2. Re:Polilitical Link by DrData99 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Close. It's Suzan DelBene.http://delbene.house.gov/

  4. Meet Sticky, the helpful animated syringe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Oh please oh please oh please

  5. Your rate offers will be ready in by wagr · · Score: 5, Funny

    45 seconds
    2 minutes
    15 seconds
    30 seconds

  6. microsoft exec plus the US Government... by roc97007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm trying to think how this could end well.

    --
    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  7. Healthcare.gov will be fixed in 2 weeks by GoCrazy · · Score: 5, Funny

    I mean 10 seconds. Err, 3 months. No 5 days.

    --
    No beer and no TV make Homer something something
  8. Re:Looks Like You're Trying to Sign Up for Obamaca by mi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    [N/A] Keep your existing health plan?

    When Obama said: "If you like your plan you can keep it," — he meant to say: "If I like your plan, you can keep it." The millions, whose plans aren't, in Obama's omniscient and benevolent opinion, good enough — because they don't cover, say, obesity counseling, or contraception, or gender-changes — are out of luck...

    There is no corresponding correction to "death panels" because those are imaginary.

    No, they aren't. There always are patients, who could be kept alive at high costs but without much, if any, prospect of recovering. When and whether to "pull the plug" on them is currently up to the patients and/or their families. Once the government becomes the single payer — which is what Obama and you dream about — the decision will be the government's. It is unlikely, that it will be a single shirley sharrod deciding — more like a panel of them. "Death panel" is a perfectly apt term describing the outfit...

    If the IRS is already used today to suppress opposition, why wouldn't the next charismatic demagogue in the White House use these panels to an even graver effect? No, not even against the opposition figures themselves — too obvious...

    "Hey, if you'd like your mother to be approved for surgery, rather than referred to End of Life Counseling, do not talk about this and that in your next public appearance. Do we understand each other?"

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.