Fed health chief touts heath-insurance enrollment ease in Ohio

COLUMBUS (AP) — President Barack Obama’s health chief says enrolling in health insurance should be faster and easier for consumers during the second sign-up period for the federal health care law.

Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell also emphasized today during a visit to Columbus that the online system has been repeatedly tested, and its security has been a focus.

Officials are hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s website meltdown.

Open enrollment under Obama’s health overhaul starts Saturday. Consumers can get an early look at premiums now on HealthCare.gov.

Burwell has said she’s aiming to have 9.1 million paying customers enrolled in 2015 for subsidized private coverage through HealthCare.gov and state insurance markets.

That’s more than now, but well below the 13 million the Congressional Budget Office projected.