This is potentially VERY BIG NEWS.
I knew that plans are being carried in commercial marketplaces, but everyplace said you needed to go through Healthcare.gov to get the subsidies.
NOT TRUE, apparently. I happened to come across GetInsured.com, and just spent 20 mins. talking to them. They are licensed to use the data hub and offer subsidies, for the insurance companies they rep. (In NJ, they only rep two of the three companies, though.) But they are now downloading final rates of insurance plans for 2014, and can get subsidies and sign up people in the 36 states where Healthcare.gov is supposed to. I.e., they use the data hub but are not blocked by Healthcare.gov's problems.
See this story:
http://www.cnbc.com/...
Sign up, if you're having trouble with healthcare.gov.
GetInsured.com (866-602-8466) or eHealthInsurance.com.
Spread the word. We can get people signed up outside Healthcare.gov!