In The News

• Derby said she was surprised to get the notification from BCBS. "It's like, 'Oh, yeah, I got this insurance. Should be good to go.' Never saw this coming. Never," she said.

• For years, President Barack Obama and his administration said those who had and liked their insurance would be able to keep it. "He did say that," Derby said. "I remember that. I don't know what happened that we can't keep it."

• Derby currently pays close to $400 per month for insurance with a $5,000 deductible for herself and her 7-year-old daughter. A new policy from BCBS could cost her less per month, but her deducible would double, and she received a quote on a comparable policy from Priority Health that was more than $650 per month.

Obamacare insurance switch 'not fair'
Many still can't access HealthCare.gov
WOOD TV 8 - Tom Hillen
Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 6:31 AM EDT

FRUITPORT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - As many as 2 million Americans will likely lose their current health care plans because they do not meet certain requirements of the Affordable Care Act -- more commonly known as Obamacare -- according to NBC News.

One of those Americans is Fruitport Township resident and mother Jackie Derby.

Derby currently has a plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield, but that plan is being canceled come the end of the year.

"I have until December 15. If I'm not in a plan -- whether it be Blue Cross, Priority or Etna -- I have no coverage January 1. Due to heath conditions, that's not an option for me," Derby said.

Derby said she was surprised to get the notification from BCBS.

"It's like, 'Oh, yeah, I got this insurance. Should be good to go.' Never saw this coming. Never," she said.

Derby currently pays close to $400 per month for insurance with a $5,000 deductible for herself and her 7-year-old daughter.

A new policy from BCBS could cost her less per month, but her deducible would double, and she received a quote on a comparable policy from Priority Health that was more than $650 per month.

"I thought I was going to see a better rate, and I'm not seeing that right now," Derby said.

Derby has been told she qualifies for a subsidy through the Affordable Care Act that would bring down the cost of her premium. But in order to figure out how much that would be, she has to be able to log into HealthCare.gov, which she has been trying to do for a month.

When Derby tried Tuesday, the website was once again down.

"No system is perfect, but this is unacceptable," she said. "You can't do anything. I can't see rates. I can't see what am I going to be doing."

Derby said she feels lost.

"I still don't' know what I'm going to do," she said.

The spottiness of the website has been the subject of a congressional hearing. During that hearing Monday, the Medicare chief apologized for the problems and promised they would be fixed.

But Derby said she doesn't understand why she has to change plans in the first place.

For years, President Barack Obama and his administration said those who had and liked their insurance would be able to keep it.

"He did say that," Derby said. "I remember that. I don't know what happened that we can't keep it."

She also said she does have a message to those who represent her, from the president to her senators and representative.

"You need to get it fixed," she said. "This isn't fair. We're going to be penalized for inaction on your part. I've done everything that was told to me to do. Log on, create a profile, and now I can't get on. And it's [a working website] coming, it's coming.

Well, when? You've got to make changes. Peoples' lives and their livelihoods are at stake."