California seeks to separate from federal exchange

Officials operating California's state-run health insurance exchange are taking steps to differentiate it from the beleaguered federal marketplace. Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, told the Los Angeles Times the state exchange is amending its communications and outreach to California residents to clearly explain the exchange is open for business and isn't hampered by technical problems like the federal exchange. "There is this real worry people who hear about glitches think that's us and so don't even try," he said. "Will that mean people don't try us? I don't know they are not. But if the story generally is you can't enroll in the Affordable Care Act and Obamacare, that worries me." Meanwhile, Lee announced Covered California has received almost 180,000 applications for insurance during the first four weeks of open enrollment, though he wouldn't disclose how many people actually completed their applications. The exchange won't release enrollment figures until Nov. 14. Article