In the Obamacare glitch to end all glitches, Californians attempting to receive information about their new health insurance through a 1-800 number were surprised to learn they had called an adult entertainment chat line, instead.
Covered California, the Golden State’s exchange, listed a wrong phone number on its website, directing hearing-impaired consumers looking to speak with a navigator about their insurance to talk with “hot ladies,” Sacramento, Calif.’s, CBS13 reported.
“Welcome to America’s hottest talk line,” a voice greeted callers. “Ladies, to talk to interesting and exciting guys free, press one now. Guys, hot ladies are waiting to talk to you. Press two to connect free now.”
The number listed on Covered California’s website, 1-888-899-4500, was published on a page that helps users calculate the cost of their coverage. But the correct number to reach Cover California’s navigators is just one digit off — and was listed correctly on the exchange’s “Contact Us” page — 1-888-889-4500.
Jeff Brown, a California resident, told CBS13 he dialed the number just hours before Obamacare’s March 31 deadline. After logging into the Covered California website, he filled out the necessary information and was told to call the 1-800 number provided.
Brown received a busy signal and decided to call the TTY number for hearing-impaired consumers listed next to it.
“I’ll try this number again just in case I dialed it wrong — same thing,” he said.
According to CBS13, a Covered California representative denied the discrepancy, saying the exchange “never had the incorrect number on our site.”
However, a screenshot taken by the network shows different.
The Covered California representative then responded with a comment, saying, “After investigating it further, we are reviewing the shop and compare tool as an incorrect number. We’re currently working to correct the problem.”
The number has since be removed from the exchange’s website.
“I guess it’s an honest mistake,” Brown said, “but websites aren’t that hard to keep up right.”
While other users avoided instruction to call an adult entertainment chat line, they did experience several glitches and were forced to sign up in person.
Though the official deadline to sign up to receive health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act was March 31, the Obama administration announced an extension last week, giving consumers until mid-April to do so, instead.
h/t TheBlaze
