After three years and more than $400 million, it's obvious the technology underpinning Obamacare was woefully inadequate. But even if the government manages to fix the initial problems by late November, as it's promising now, that won't end the website's troubles.
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Early Problems with Obamacare Are Bigger Than a Glitch
Here's why Obamacare is falling apart and what that means for you...
Obamacare Online Exchanges: 9 Real Life Experiences from Money Morning Readers
Considering taxpayers shelled out more than $500 million to build the Obamacare online exchanges, we'd like to know how they're actually operating, for good or for bad.
We know it's not all good...
For example, the federal government is operating an exchange for 36 states, and it's seen some of the worst complications. Part of the problem is volume: Within three days, a whopping 8.6 million people visited healthcare.gov.
We also know that Obamacare's success depends on having a large number of people enroll - especially the younger, healthier crowd. The Congressional Budget Office says Obamacare needs 7 million people to sign up at a minimum for it to stay afloat financially.
5 New Obamacare Facts You Need to Know
Now that Obamacare is officially up and running (well, sort of), a lot of Americans are anxious to know how well - or how badly - things are going. Here's the latest word on five key aspects of the new health care law...
Obamacare Facts: Support Slips to 39%; Defund Talk Gets Louder
It's no longer just conservatives who object to the president's controversial health care law. A new poll indicates that two core Democratic groups who once supported Obamacare are now turning against it. Here's what changed their minds...
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The Scariest Obamacare Facts Yet
The real Obamacare facts keep emerging as we get closer to the implementation of this law. Check out the seven scariest facts yet. Read more...
Romneycare vs. Obamacare: Insurance Companies Win Either Way
But they'd be equally happy if President Barack Obama is re-elected and his Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land.
In short, the insurance companies will profit either way and are planning accordingly.
But how is this possible?
By extending insurance to millions of people previously without coverage Obamacare will provide insurance companies with millions of new customers, a development that clearly will boost their bottom lines.
Romney has promised to dismantle Obamacare and replace it with his own "Romneycare," but don't mistake this new version for the comprehensive reform plan he signed into law as governor of Massachusetts in 2006.
Romney says his new plan would free up the healthcare markets to increase competition and drive down costs.
But this new incarnation of Romneycare -- perhaps more accurately described as Romneycare 2.0 -- is unlikely to contain healthcare costs and almost certainly will deliver fatter profits to private insurance companies.
"Under [Obamacare] reform, you get market expansion, and that's a good thing" for health companies, Dan Mendelson, the chief executive of Avalere Health, a consultancy told The Wall Street Journal.
"Under Romney, it's going to be like managed-care city," he said.
One thing is clear, however -- neither Obamacare nor Romneycare can stop Americans from getting older and swelling the rolls of government medical plans.
And that will spell huge profits for the companies who manage government programs.
Here's why...
With or Without "Obamacare" These Healthcare Stocks Are Headed Higher
Three days of arguments before the Supreme Court have made it abundantly clear - "Obamacare" is in danger of being gutted or completely wiped off the books.
Only one thing's for sure. Investors will want to keep buying healthcare stocks -especially as 10,000 baby boomers a day turn 65 years old for the next 20 years.
But there's one segment of the healthcare sector that will be sitting in the driver's seat when it comes to delivering healthy profits and investment returns - no matter how the court rules.
Here's what you need to know...
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Obamacare in the Balance: Key Takeaways from the Affordable Health Care Act Hearings
Three fast-paced days was all it took for nine justices to grill advocates arguing for and against the Affordable Care Act - better known as Obamacare.
A decision is expected in late June, just months before 2012 presidential elections.
Although it is notoriously difficult to predict U.S. Supreme Court decisions purely based on their questioning, here are my takeaways from these momentous three days.
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