Debbie Wasserman Schultz defends HealthCare.gov

Google, tech companies brought in to fix struggling website

MIAMI ā€“ U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz led the charge Thursday against criticism about HealthCare.gov.

Wasserman Schultz spoke with patients at the Borinquen Medical Center, which specializes in treating low-income Miamians without insurance.

"Right here at Borinquen, they've helped educate nearly 2,600 people in the last four weeks about the health care plans that are available in the marketplace," said the congresswoman.

Borinquen has five navigators who help guide applicants through the process, but only about 100 have been able to sign up because of problems plaguing the website.

"The website is being retooled and we expect that, from the administration's direction, that by the end of November, all the kinks should be ironed out," said Wasserman Schultz.

Special section: Health care reform

"Look, there's no denying it. Right now, the website is too slow, too many people have gotten stuck, and I'm not happy about it," President Barack Obama said Wednesday.

Neither are the 300,000 Floridians insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield, who received letters saying their policies will end January 1st. Many will be transitioned to new, more expensive policies.

Carolyn Newman, a breast cancer survivor, is the exception.

"My health benefits will be better," she said. "Instead of paying $1,270 a month, I'm paying $640 a month."

Sen. Marco Rubio asked that his constituents send him their problems about HealthCare.gov. Experts from Google and other prominent tech companies are joining a so-called tech surge to fix the struggling website.