English subtitles for clip: File:12-2-13- White House Press Briefing.webm

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Mr. Carney:
Hello, everyone.

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Welcome to the White House for
the first briefing of December,

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at least from this podium.

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And I hope everyone here had
a terrific Thanksgiving holiday

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and was able to spend time
with friends and family.

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I have no announcements to make

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so I'll go straight
to your questions.

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Julie.

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The Press:
Thank you.

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There were some reports over
the weekend from administration

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officials on the status
of the healthcare.gov website,

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basically indicating that the
worst of the problems are over

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but there are still other
problems in the system.

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Is the President
comfortable with the level

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that the website is
operating at, at this point?

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Mr. Carney:
The President believes
that the site has been

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significantly improved
and that the teams in place

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have worked 24/7 for weeks
now to make those improvements,

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including significant
improvements

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that were made over the weekend.

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But the work is not done.

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As we've been saying
for some time,

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there would be continued issues
that we needed to address

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and we'll continue to do that.

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But with the
improvements that were made

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and discussed
by Jeff Zients over the weekend,

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we believe that this website
is and will function effectively

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for the vast majority of users.

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And each day,
we will continue to take steps

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to make further improvements
so that that experience

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is enhanced for users every day.

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The Press:
Insurers are saying
that there's a problem still

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on the back end where, for
those folks that are actually

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able to enroll, the information
that the insurance companies are

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getting is garbled, incomplete,
in some cases totally unusable.

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Can the administration
assure people

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who have been able to
enroll that they will, in fact,

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have coverage beginning
on January 1st?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I'm glad you
asked me that question.

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There's a couple of things
I want to say about that.

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First of all, we are very
mindful of making sure that

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consumers who want coverage
starting in January

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are able to get it.

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And CMS is reaching out directly
to consumers who have already

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selected a plan to let them know
to be in touch with their plan

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to pay their first premium to
ensure that coverage kicks in

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and know that plans are working
hard to make sure their new

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customers are covered as well.

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So this is a joint effort to
reach out to those who have

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enrolled to make sure
that every step is being --

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that they know they need
to take all the necessary steps

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to ensure that that
coverage kicks in.

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Furthermore, CMS is having daily
conversations with issuers

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to get feedback from them.

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We have instituted a number
of significant fixes to the

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so-called 834 forms, which are
these -- that's the vehicle

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by which information is
transmitted to the issuers.

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And we believe that
the majority of fixes

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to 834 forms have been made,

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including significant ones
that were made over the weekend.

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We expect the info now sent to
insurers to be vastly improved.

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But we're going to continue to
work with issuers to make sure

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that whatever remaining problems
exist are addressed and fixed.

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The Press:
So you can assure folks
that have signed up

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or will sign up through December
23rd that they will definitely

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have coverage beginning
on January 1st?

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Mr. Carney:
Well, I think what I
would say is that CMS is

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reaching out to those who
have enrolled to make sure

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that they know the steps
that they need to take

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to ensure that
coverage kicks in.

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If a consumer enrolls in a plan
by December 23rd and makes their

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first payment by the date
set by their insurer,

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they are covered
beginning January 1st.

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And if consumers are not
sure if they are enrolled,

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they should call our customer
call center or the insurer of

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their choice so that they
can be sure they're covered

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by January 1st.

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So we're making --
this is a high priority,

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making sure that those
who are enrolled are aware

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of the steps that
they need to take,

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including that they need
to pay their premiums on time

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for coverage.

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We're working with insurers
to make sure that those

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who are enrolled know
this information.

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And we're reaching out --
or we're telling consumers

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that if they're not sure
that they're enrolled,

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they should call the call center
or their insurer directly.

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The Press:
And if I could just
ask quickly about the

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dispute in the East China Sea.

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Vice President Biden is
in Asia right now visiting

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Japan and China.

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Is he carrying any kind of
message from the White House

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in terms of this dispute
and what the President

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would like to
see from both sides?

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Mr. Carney:
The Vice President is on
a long-planned trip to Asia

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that includes
several countries.

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And while a number of
issues will be raised

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in the discussions he'll,

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have given the increase
in regional tensions,

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the ADIZ that China
announced will be an issue

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the Vice President will raise.

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He has an excellent
relationship with the leaders

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of all three countries,

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and he will underscore
how important it is

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to avoid actions that raise
tensions and to prevent

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miscalculations that could
undermine peace, security,

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and prosperity in the region.

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This is an opportunity for
Vice President Biden to raise

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our concerns directly with
policymakers in Beijing

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and to seek clarity
regarding the Chinese intentions

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in making this
move at this time.

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It is also an opportunity to
confer with our allies Japan

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and the Republic of Korea,

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both of whom are directly
affected by China's actions.

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Steve.

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The Press:
Jay, along those lines,

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North Korea is holding
this 85-year-old American,

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Edward Newman.

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Has there been any progress
toward getting him released?

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And is this something
the Vice President

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is going to raise on the trip?

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Mr. Carney:
We are deeply concerned
about the welfare

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of the U.S. citizens held
in custody in the DPRK.

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Kenneth Bae has been
in North Korea custody --

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North Korean custody
for over a year,

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and we continue to urge the DPRK
authorities to grant him amnesty

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and immediate release.

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We also urge the immediate
release of Merrill Newman,

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who was detained more recently.

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Given Mr. Newman's advanced
age and health conditions,

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we urge the DPRK to release
Mr. Newman so he may return home

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and reunite with his family.

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Again, I don't have an itemized
list of topics of discussion

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for the Vice President,

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but in addition to
all the important issues that we

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discuss with the governments
of the countries he's visiting,

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I'm sure that those that
are getting a lot of attention

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right now will be among
those issues discussed.

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The Press:
And then back on health
care for a second,

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the queuing system
has been activated.

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Mr. Carney: Yes.

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The Press:
Why was this done?

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And how much has traffic
exceeded capacity

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on the website?

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Mr. Carney:
Let me say a couple of things.

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One of the improvements that
has been made since October 1st

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was the improvement
to the queuing system.

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We absolutely anticipated that
on this day in particular,

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because it is the first workday
after the deadline we set

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for ourselves to make sure that
the website was functioning

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effectively for the
vast majority of users,

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we would see a surge
in visitors to the website.

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And I don't have
specific numbers for you,

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but I can tell you that
we are seeing that surge,

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and I believe the --

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and I'll leave it to
CMS to give more detail.

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I believe that something
on the order of 375,000 visitors

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had gone to healthcare.gov
by noon today --

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375,000, which is
obviously a large number.

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One of the fixes that has been
made was the new queuing system,

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the improved queuing system,
so that when we saw a surge

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in users, we would have a means
by which individuals who are

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interested in enrolling would
get information about when they

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can return to the site and
enroll more effectively

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and efficiently, and that
way make the whole operation

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more effective and smooth.

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Even for those
visitors who aren't ready

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to buy a plan
or enroll in a plan,

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they can avail themselves
of a new option that

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is available now, which is an
improved window shopping tool

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which will allow them,
in greater detail, to --

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April, I'll get to you.

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You look very puzzled,
as does Anita.

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But the new
window-shopping tool,

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the upgraded window-shopping
tool will allow visitors

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to get more detail about
the options available to them,

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and they can do that without
enrolling and therefore would

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not have to get in a queue if
they are trying to enroll

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in a surge period like
we're seeing today.

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Jim.

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The Press:
So is today sort of a cyber
Monday for healthcare.gov?

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[laughter]

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Mr. Carney:
Well, what I can tell
you is that I certainly

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will hope to avail myself
at some point today

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of cyber Monday, anyway, to --

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The Press:
When you get home.

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Mr. Carney:
-- when I get home,

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to begin to make some
holiday purchases.

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But look, what we have said all
along about the November 30th,

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December 1st, December 2nd
deadline is that this was

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a marker along the road towards
the progress we need to make.

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That by November
30th, December 1st,

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we would see the system --
the healthcare.gov website

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working effectively for
the vast majority of users.

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But the work is not done,
and it will continue.

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And we will continue
to make improvements.

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We continue to have folks
working around the clock

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on the site to make it more
and more effective every day.

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And what I was trying to say,
and Josh and others were trying

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to say, including the President,
in the days and weeks leading up

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to this deadline is that it
wouldn't all happen at once;

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that those improvements
were being made every day.

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And we saw those improvements
affect positively

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the user experience
every day through November.

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So I think that we're
not done with the work

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that needs to be
done on that website,

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but we have I think passed
an important milestone

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when it comes to making
it work effectively

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for the vast majority of users.

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The Press:
And on that note, if
you go to the website

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periodically throughout
the day today,

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and you hit the "login"
button or if you go

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to the "apply online" button,
it does take you to that screen

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where you're asked to leave
an email and come back later.

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That seems to be coming
up almost every hour

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that I've checked
it all day long.

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Mr. Carney:
I'm sure a lot of journalists
are checking it today.

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The Press:
But given the volume,

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it's probably not
affecting it that much.

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But I just want to -- I mean,
is that going to be acceptable

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if that's the norm
for a lot of people

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for an extended period of time?

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Mr. Carney:
What I think is important to
note is that the queuing system,

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the more sophisticated,
improved queuing system

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is a feature designed
to improve the user experience;

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that when we talked
about concurrent users

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it was always going to be
the case, as we anticipated,

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that on a day like today we
would see a surge beyond even

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the vastly improved capacity
levels that are the result of

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the changes that have been made
and fixes that have been made.

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And what was important --

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and we talked about this
before November 30th --

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is that we have
a queuing system made

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for a better user experience
so that individuals

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could get in that
queue, could be notified

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when was the best time
to return to healthcare.gov

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and enroll,
if they so desired.

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As I mentioned earlier, among
the other improvements made to

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the site is an improved and more
sophisticated window-shopping

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00:11:50,127 --> 00:11:55,627
tool, which Americans who are
only at the stage now of looking

241
00:11:55,628 --> 00:11:58,628
at the options available to them
can avail themselves of without

242
00:11:58,628 --> 00:12:03,027
enrolling and without -- if
they're visiting a site during

243
00:12:03,027 --> 00:12:05,628
a surge period, without
having to get in a queue.

244
00:12:05,628 --> 00:12:07,594
The Press:
Yesterday -- on a conference
call yesterday,

245
00:12:07,594 --> 00:12:11,661
Jeffrey Zients seemed to take
issue with the management

246
00:12:11,661 --> 00:12:14,527
structure and style that
had been in place in guiding

247
00:12:14,528 --> 00:12:17,494
healthcare.gov to its launch.

248
00:12:17,494 --> 00:12:19,494
Was he talking about
Secretary Sebelius?

249
00:12:19,494 --> 00:12:21,895
Who was he talking about
when he seemed to question

250
00:12:21,895 --> 00:12:24,761
the way that that process
was being managed?

251
00:12:27,261 --> 00:12:32,261
Mr. Carney:
I think what Jeff has
been tasked with doing

252
00:12:32,261 --> 00:12:36,493
and is working on every day
is improving the management

253
00:12:36,494 --> 00:12:41,061
of the healthcare.gov operation,

254
00:12:41,061 --> 00:12:43,861
and focusing
specifically on the teams

255
00:12:43,861 --> 00:12:46,795
that are making the
fixes necessary to the website.

256
00:12:46,795 --> 00:12:48,194
And that work has been ongoing

257
00:12:48,194 --> 00:12:51,328
and it has delivered
significant improvements.

258
00:12:53,561 --> 00:12:57,161
What I'm sure Jeff was also
referring to is something

259
00:12:57,161 --> 00:12:59,960
that we've all been
quite candid about:

260
00:12:59,961 --> 00:13:06,194
The website did not
function nearly up to standards

261
00:13:06,194 --> 00:13:07,861
that were necessary
come October 1st,

262
00:13:07,861 --> 00:13:09,261
and it should have.

263
00:13:09,261 --> 00:13:10,560
And that's on us.

264
00:13:10,561 --> 00:13:15,494
And that's why we've dedicated
the resources and brainpower

265
00:13:15,494 --> 00:13:18,428
that we have to fixing it,
because this is all about

266
00:13:18,428 --> 00:13:21,728
the goal we set with the passage
of the Affordable Care Act,

267
00:13:21,728 --> 00:13:25,161
which is that millions of
Americans need to be able

268
00:13:25,161 --> 00:13:29,460
to avail themselves of quality,
affordable health insurance,

269
00:13:29,461 --> 00:13:31,294
for many of them
for the first time,

270
00:13:31,294 --> 00:13:33,026
or the first time
in many, many years.

271
00:13:33,027 --> 00:13:37,728
And we focus on that, and
healthcare.gov and the other

272
00:13:37,728 --> 00:13:42,527
avenues by which you can
enroll are means to that end.

273
00:13:42,528 --> 00:13:45,194
But it is absolutely our
responsibility to make sure that

274
00:13:45,194 --> 00:13:48,928
that website, which is an
important part of the process

275
00:13:48,928 --> 00:13:52,928
of getting those Americans
who want quality,

276
00:13:52,928 --> 00:13:55,695
affordable health insurance
enrolled works effectively.

277
00:13:55,695 --> 00:13:59,294
And Jeff has been an important
part of that effort since he

278
00:13:59,294 --> 00:14:01,328
came onboard to do this.

279
00:14:01,328 --> 00:14:03,593
The Press:
Can you clarify the
375,000 really fast?

280
00:14:03,594 --> 00:14:07,695
The three -- well, the four of
us now are kind of confused.

281
00:14:07,695 --> 00:14:10,194
Is it just for today?

282
00:14:10,194 --> 00:14:13,961
Mr. Carney:
Yes, by noon today, 375,000
visitors to the site.

283
00:14:13,961 --> 00:14:15,861
The Press:
Starting with when?

284
00:14:15,861 --> 00:14:17,928
Mr. Carney:
I believe that
is today's figure,

285
00:14:17,928 --> 00:14:19,194
not today's and yesterday's.

286
00:14:19,194 --> 00:14:20,895
But CMS will be --

287
00:14:20,895 --> 00:14:21,895
The Press:
Today's figure.

288
00:14:21,895 --> 00:14:22,895
Mr. Carney:
Today's figure.

289
00:14:22,895 --> 00:14:23,895
So that is just today.

290
00:14:23,895 --> 00:14:25,428
The Press:
From midnight on to 12 noon?

291
00:14:25,428 --> 00:14:26,594
Mr. Carney:
I think that's correct.

292
00:14:26,594 --> 00:14:30,294
So I believe CMS will be
briefing and will have more

293
00:14:30,294 --> 00:14:34,661
information available, but I was
given that before I came out to

294
00:14:34,661 --> 00:14:38,960
give you a sense of the
volume that we're seeing --

295
00:14:38,961 --> 00:14:41,628
which, again, we anticipated,
which is why it was so important

296
00:14:41,628 --> 00:14:43,728
to put in place
the queuing system,

297
00:14:43,728 --> 00:14:45,593
because I know those
are just visitors,

298
00:14:45,594 --> 00:14:50,227
but there are obviously
those who are trying to

299
00:14:50,227 --> 00:14:51,328
and want to enroll,

300
00:14:51,328 --> 00:14:54,593
and we want to make
sure that their experience

301
00:14:54,594 --> 00:14:58,127
is vastly improved and that
if they are trying to enroll

302
00:14:58,127 --> 00:15:01,795
during a surge period, that
they are given the information

303
00:15:01,795 --> 00:15:05,627
they need to make sure
that they're in a queue

304
00:15:05,628 --> 00:15:09,328
and can come back
to the site at a time

305
00:15:09,328 --> 00:15:12,394
when it will be more effective
and efficient for them.

306
00:15:12,394 --> 00:15:14,127
The Press:
Can I just follow up on that?

307
00:15:14,127 --> 00:15:17,026
But that's vastly more
than they say they can handle

308
00:15:17,027 --> 00:15:18,895
in a day, right?

309
00:15:18,895 --> 00:15:22,093
Mr. Carney:
No, the day figure
was 800,000 I believe.

310
00:15:22,094 --> 00:15:23,194
The Press:
800,000.

311
00:15:23,194 --> 00:15:24,261
Mr. Carney: Yes.

312
00:15:24,261 --> 00:15:25,895
The Press:
And so you expect the surge,

313
00:15:25,895 --> 00:15:29,428
that's a one-day thing,
or you think it will --

314
00:15:29,428 --> 00:15:31,027
Mr. Carney:
I would refer you to CMS

315
00:15:31,027 --> 00:15:32,928
for what their expectations
are for numbers.

316
00:15:32,928 --> 00:15:36,728
We always expected today
to be a big day and --

317
00:15:36,728 --> 00:15:37,795
The Press:
Why the queuing system,

318
00:15:37,795 --> 00:15:39,694
if that's far
smaller than the 800,000?

319
00:15:39,695 --> 00:15:41,594
See what I'm saying?

320
00:15:41,594 --> 00:15:43,561
Mr. Carney:
Again, there are
visitors to the site

321
00:15:43,561 --> 00:15:45,227
and there are those who are
trying to enroll in the site.

322
00:15:45,227 --> 00:15:47,127
You can go and visit and shop.

323
00:15:47,127 --> 00:15:48,127
You can spend
a little time on it,

324
00:15:48,127 --> 00:15:50,161
you can spend a long time on it.

325
00:15:50,161 --> 00:15:55,928
But if you register and select
a plan, thereby enrolling,

326
00:15:55,928 --> 00:15:59,561
that activates a
different part of the system

327
00:15:59,561 --> 00:16:01,861
and that is where you
would get in the queue --

328
00:16:01,861 --> 00:16:04,528
not to visit, but to enroll.

329
00:16:04,528 --> 00:16:06,094
The Press:
So 375,000 in the queue?

330
00:16:06,094 --> 00:16:07,094
Mr. Carney:
No, April.

331
00:16:07,094 --> 00:16:10,561
375,000 visitors to the website.

332
00:16:10,561 --> 00:16:12,561
Jon.

333
00:16:14,994 --> 00:16:18,961
The Press:
Jay, first, another
numbers question.

334
00:16:18,961 --> 00:16:22,994
There have been reports
that 100,000, roughly,

335
00:16:22,994 --> 00:16:25,394
were able to enroll
in the month of November,

336
00:16:25,394 --> 00:16:27,127
about four times
the month of October.

337
00:16:27,127 --> 00:16:28,627
Is that correct?

338
00:16:28,628 --> 00:16:30,094
Mr. Carney:
I don't have specific data.

339
00:16:30,094 --> 00:16:32,661
These are the kinds
of things that,

340
00:16:32,661 --> 00:16:34,026
as we saw in the
previous month,

341
00:16:34,027 --> 00:16:37,294
that HHS needs to scrub
and collect and gather.

342
00:16:37,294 --> 00:16:38,627
What I --

343
00:16:38,628 --> 00:16:39,628
The Press:
Ballpark?

344
00:16:39,628 --> 00:16:40,828
Is that roughly four times --

345
00:16:40,828 --> 00:16:42,127
Mr. Carney:
I simply would urge you to wait

346
00:16:42,127 --> 00:16:47,093
until we have hard
data from HHS and CMS.

347
00:16:47,094 --> 00:16:51,394
What I can tell you is that
improvements were made

348
00:16:51,394 --> 00:16:53,227
to the website throughout
the month of November,

349
00:16:53,227 --> 00:16:57,627
as we discussed, and I would
expect that the numbers

350
00:16:57,628 --> 00:17:00,428
who successfully enrolled
in November would exceed

351
00:17:00,428 --> 00:17:02,528
the numbers who successfully
enrolled in October.

352
00:17:02,528 --> 00:17:04,594
But I don't have
a hard figure for you.

353
00:17:04,594 --> 00:17:06,528
The Press:
And in terms of the goal
that you set

354
00:17:06,528 --> 00:17:09,027
for this moment in time,
of the website being functional

355
00:17:09,027 --> 00:17:13,428
for the vast majority of users,
is it mission accomplished?

356
00:17:13,428 --> 00:17:15,861
Mr. Carney:
Well, as I was saying, Jon,

357
00:17:15,861 --> 00:17:20,861
we were working very hard to
make the necessary fixes

358
00:17:20,861 --> 00:17:24,861
to improve the website
so that by December 1st

359
00:17:24,861 --> 00:17:27,961
it would function effectively
for the vast majority of users.

360
00:17:27,961 --> 00:17:31,361
The metrics we used
to measure that have to do

361
00:17:31,361 --> 00:17:34,628
with response time
and stability of the site

362
00:17:34,628 --> 00:17:35,860
and the error rate,

363
00:17:35,861 --> 00:17:39,928
and I know that Jeff and others
who do the CMS briefings

364
00:17:39,928 --> 00:17:42,795
have gone into those metrics.

365
00:17:42,795 --> 00:17:47,027
And we believe we made
the important progress

366
00:17:47,027 --> 00:17:49,994
that we set out to
make by November 30th,

367
00:17:49,994 --> 00:17:53,695
but as we said in November
and I've said just now,

368
00:17:53,695 --> 00:17:56,660
the work continues
to make improvements

369
00:17:56,661 --> 00:17:58,227
that still need to be
made to the website.

370
00:17:58,227 --> 00:18:01,561
And the focus here is not on --

371
00:18:01,561 --> 00:18:03,895
the endgame here
isn't the best possible

372
00:18:03,895 --> 00:18:06,860
and most effective
website that we can build,

373
00:18:06,861 --> 00:18:11,528
but a system by which all
those millions of Americans

374
00:18:11,528 --> 00:18:14,695
who are clearly
interested in enrolling

375
00:18:14,695 --> 00:18:16,061
and purchasing quality,

376
00:18:16,061 --> 00:18:18,160
affordable health insurance
are able to do so.

377
00:18:18,161 --> 00:18:20,828
So that's our goal,
and that work continues today.

378
00:18:20,828 --> 00:18:26,728
We have passed an important
milestone in that effort,

379
00:18:26,728 --> 00:18:28,661
but the work continues.

380
00:18:28,661 --> 00:18:30,361
The Press:
Let me just try to
crystallize that down,

381
00:18:30,361 --> 00:18:33,094
because we tried to pin you
down on what "vast majority"

382
00:18:33,094 --> 00:18:35,795
means and you guys didn't
want to quantify it.

383
00:18:35,795 --> 00:18:39,061
Just very clearly,
in terms of the goal you set

384
00:18:39,061 --> 00:18:41,928
for this moment in time,
is it mission accomplished?

385
00:18:41,928 --> 00:18:43,494
Have you accomplished that goal?

386
00:18:43,494 --> 00:18:46,593
Mr. Carney:
Using that phrase is
not one I would employ.

387
00:18:46,594 --> 00:18:49,661
What I would say
is what Jeff said,

388
00:18:49,661 --> 00:18:53,161
is that we were able to make
the necessary improvements

389
00:18:53,161 --> 00:18:57,061
to the website so that the
vast majority of Americans

390
00:18:57,061 --> 00:19:00,293
who use the website
have an experience

391
00:19:00,294 --> 00:19:02,428
in which the site
functions effectively.

392
00:19:02,428 --> 00:19:05,561
It does not mean -- as I know I
said in November and October --

393
00:19:05,561 --> 00:19:08,761
it does not mean that
there will be no problems

394
00:19:08,761 --> 00:19:09,961
with the website going forward.

395
00:19:09,961 --> 00:19:11,994
That doesn't even occur

396
00:19:11,994 --> 00:19:15,994
on the most highly functional
private sector websites.

397
00:19:15,994 --> 00:19:19,828
So what it does mean is that
we've made significant progress,

398
00:19:19,828 --> 00:19:21,628
we've made the
improvements to the system

399
00:19:21,628 --> 00:19:24,994
that we hoped we could,
and that more work continues.

400
00:19:24,994 --> 00:19:27,194
The Press:
Well, how do you explain
that for most of the day

401
00:19:27,194 --> 00:19:30,494
so far people that have tried to
get on have gotten that message

402
00:19:30,494 --> 00:19:32,160
that the website is too crowded?

403
00:19:32,161 --> 00:19:33,428
Mr. Carney:
Well, first of all,

404
00:19:33,428 --> 00:19:35,594
I think I noted the number
of people who have visited the

405
00:19:35,594 --> 00:19:38,861
website just up to noon today.

406
00:19:38,861 --> 00:19:41,594
We completely anticipated
and I know telegraphed

407
00:19:41,594 --> 00:19:45,594
that we would see surges
in the number of visitors

408
00:19:45,594 --> 00:19:46,828
and the number of
people trying to enroll,

409
00:19:46,828 --> 00:19:47,961
especially on a day like today.

410
00:19:47,961 --> 00:19:49,628
And that is why we built
that queuing system,

411
00:19:49,628 --> 00:19:52,160
so that we would
improve the experience

412
00:19:52,161 --> 00:19:55,194
of those users who visited the
site over what they experienced

413
00:19:55,194 --> 00:19:59,761
back in October when the website
was not functioning effectively

414
00:19:59,761 --> 00:20:00,895
for the vast majority of users,

415
00:20:00,895 --> 00:20:04,761
and those who were
trying to get in weren't

416
00:20:04,761 --> 00:20:09,127
being queued up through
a sophisticated system

417
00:20:09,127 --> 00:20:12,161
that allowed them to
return to the site at a time

418
00:20:12,161 --> 00:20:14,695
when it would function more
efficiently for them.

419
00:20:14,695 --> 00:20:15,695
The Press:
And what do you say to those --

420
00:20:15,695 --> 00:20:16,895
because we've
talked to some today

421
00:20:16,895 --> 00:20:18,928
that we've been tracking
from the start of this --

422
00:20:18,928 --> 00:20:22,161
who still went on
yesterday and today,

423
00:20:22,161 --> 00:20:23,661
and still are unable to enroll?

424
00:20:23,661 --> 00:20:25,428
What do you say to them?

425
00:20:25,428 --> 00:20:29,194
Mr. Carney:
Well, look, I would
say that we have seen

426
00:20:29,194 --> 00:20:31,293
steady improvement in the site,

427
00:20:31,294 --> 00:20:34,961
and that improvement continued
over the weekend and today.

428
00:20:34,961 --> 00:20:39,628
What is absolutely
the case is that we need

429
00:20:39,628 --> 00:20:40,794
to continue our work,

430
00:20:40,795 --> 00:20:44,428
and that while the vast
majority of users are able

431
00:20:44,428 --> 00:20:49,528
to access the site and have
it function effectively,

432
00:20:49,528 --> 00:20:51,294
on a day like today
when you have a surge

433
00:20:51,294 --> 00:20:54,261
that we're likely seeing,

434
00:20:54,261 --> 00:20:56,261
you're going to get this
queue message, potentially,

435
00:20:56,261 --> 00:20:59,928
if you're trying to enroll,
which allows for you to return

436
00:20:59,928 --> 00:21:03,361
to the site when it's
going to be less crowded.

437
00:21:03,361 --> 00:21:05,094
And that's a vast improvement
over the experience

438
00:21:05,094 --> 00:21:06,895
that people had
during surge periods --

439
00:21:06,895 --> 00:21:07,895
or any period, really --

440
00:21:07,895 --> 00:21:09,261
in early October.

441
00:21:09,261 --> 00:21:11,061
Separately, I think it's
important to note, because,

442
00:21:11,061 --> 00:21:12,994
again -- and this goes back to
some of the confusion --

443
00:21:12,994 --> 00:21:14,761
there are visitors to
the site and there are those

444
00:21:14,761 --> 00:21:19,127
who are trying to
enroll potentially,

445
00:21:19,127 --> 00:21:22,695
and it's also the issue
of how many overall visitors

446
00:21:22,695 --> 00:21:24,226
to the site over a
certain period of time --

447
00:21:24,227 --> 00:21:26,728
a day or a half a day --
versus the number of visitors

448
00:21:26,728 --> 00:21:30,695
at a given moment, which is what
generates the queue message.

449
00:21:30,695 --> 00:21:34,528
So you're able to window shop
using a much more sophisticated

450
00:21:34,528 --> 00:21:39,795
tool than you were in the past,
and we are confident that the

451
00:21:39,795 --> 00:21:42,094
number of people who are
successfully navigating the

452
00:21:42,094 --> 00:21:46,294
system is improving and
has improved significantly.

453
00:21:46,294 --> 00:21:47,628
The Press:
And just one last question.

454
00:21:47,628 --> 00:21:50,360
Your predecessor, Robert Gibbs,
as you probably saw, said --

455
00:21:50,361 --> 00:21:51,961
Mr. Carney:
Had a great day on Saturday.

456
00:21:51,961 --> 00:21:53,127
[laughter]

457
00:21:53,127 --> 00:21:54,528
The Press:
He says -- well,
that's true, he did --

458
00:21:54,528 --> 00:21:56,494
it will be inexplicable
if somebody --

459
00:21:56,494 --> 00:21:57,494
The Press:
He didn't score the touchdown.

460
00:21:57,494 --> 00:21:58,494
[laughter]

461
00:21:58,494 --> 00:21:59,494
Mr. Carney:
I think it felt like he did.

462
00:21:59,494 --> 00:22:00,961
[laughter]

463
00:22:00,961 --> 00:22:02,461
The Press:
But Mr. Gibbs says,

464
00:22:02,461 --> 00:22:05,194
"It will be inexplicable
if somebody involved

465
00:22:05,194 --> 00:22:08,494
in the creation of the
website doesn't get fired

466
00:22:08,494 --> 00:22:10,794
or a group of people
don't get fired."

467
00:22:10,795 --> 00:22:12,227
Do you agree with that?

468
00:22:12,227 --> 00:22:14,094
Mr. Carney:
Look, what I would say
is that we are focused on --

469
00:22:14,094 --> 00:22:17,594
and I know that Robert said
this also in that interview --

470
00:22:17,594 --> 00:22:19,961
that it is important
to focus right now

471
00:22:19,961 --> 00:22:22,461
on making the necessary
fixes to the website

472
00:22:22,461 --> 00:22:25,227
so that it functions effectively
for the vast majority of users,

473
00:22:25,227 --> 00:22:28,895
and that we continue to make
those fixes so that improvements

474
00:22:28,895 --> 00:22:30,895
continue to be made.

475
00:22:32,695 --> 00:22:35,628
Issues on personnel are not
something that we're focused on

476
00:22:35,628 --> 00:22:39,828
right now when it comes to
making the Affordable Care Act

477
00:22:39,828 --> 00:22:41,461
work for the American people.

478
00:22:41,461 --> 00:22:43,594
We want to make sure that
millions of Americans

479
00:22:43,594 --> 00:22:48,027
who so clearly are interested,
in significant numbers,

480
00:22:48,027 --> 00:22:52,261
in the access provided to them
by the Affordable Care Act to

481
00:22:52,261 --> 00:22:56,027
quality, affordable health
insurance are able to get it.

482
00:22:56,027 --> 00:23:01,628
And what we've said in past
weeks remains true today.

483
00:23:01,628 --> 00:23:04,593
We're focused on -- not on
Monday-morning quarterbacking.

484
00:23:04,594 --> 00:23:08,728
I think the President noted,
we'll go back and look at this

485
00:23:08,728 --> 00:23:13,961
period and there's no question
that he tops the list among

486
00:23:13,961 --> 00:23:17,761
those individuals who are
frustrated by the failures that

487
00:23:17,761 --> 00:23:20,194
we saw with healthcare.gov
and its launch.

488
00:23:20,194 --> 00:23:23,994
But right now, he wants his team
focused on making improvements

489
00:23:23,994 --> 00:23:28,061
for the American people who,
again, as today is evidence of,

490
00:23:28,061 --> 00:23:30,928
are so clearly interested
in this quality,

491
00:23:30,928 --> 00:23:33,461
affordable health insurance.

492
00:23:33,461 --> 00:23:34,895
Major.

493
00:23:34,895 --> 00:23:36,161
The Press:
While the President was
on the West Coast last week,

494
00:23:36,161 --> 00:23:39,594
the White House
called in several allies

495
00:23:39,594 --> 00:23:44,961
in the enrollment campaign for
the health care law, and said,

496
00:23:44,961 --> 00:23:49,928
next week, don't pursue a big
advertising or enrollment push

497
00:23:49,928 --> 00:23:52,728
because we're not quite ready.

498
00:23:52,728 --> 00:23:55,728
Doesn't that speak to,
though the site is improved,

499
00:23:55,728 --> 00:23:57,561
it's still core fragility?

500
00:23:57,561 --> 00:24:00,093
That even though people who
support the law want to get

501
00:24:00,094 --> 00:24:02,895
people enrolled, who are ready
to launch a public relations

502
00:24:02,895 --> 00:24:04,695
campaign to help you
get people enrolled,

503
00:24:04,695 --> 00:24:06,261
were instructed by
this White House,

504
00:24:06,261 --> 00:24:08,428
"Hold off because
we're not ready yet"?

505
00:24:08,428 --> 00:24:11,461
Mr. Carney: Well, I think as
the numbers that I cited earlier

506
00:24:11,461 --> 00:24:16,895
in this briefing demonstrate,
our issue is not with the number

507
00:24:16,895 --> 00:24:19,795
of people who have demonstrated
their interest in coming

508
00:24:19,795 --> 00:24:24,561
to the website and potentially
enrolling and getting covered.

509
00:24:24,561 --> 00:24:27,860
So we're focused on making sure
that that process works

510
00:24:27,861 --> 00:24:30,795
for the many, many
Americans who are --

511
00:24:30,795 --> 00:24:32,328
The Press:
These people want
to make it work.

512
00:24:32,328 --> 00:24:33,860
Mr. Carney:
Yes, and so do we.

513
00:24:33,861 --> 00:24:37,361
The Press:
And they have lots of people
they want to communicate with --

514
00:24:37,361 --> 00:24:39,328
Mr. Carney:
What I'm saying is that in
the first week of December --

515
00:24:39,328 --> 00:24:40,594
The Press:
-- to say, "Go to the website,"

516
00:24:40,594 --> 00:24:41,895
and you're still saying --
even with all this happy talk,

517
00:24:41,895 --> 00:24:43,127
you're saying, "Don't do it
yet because it's not ready yet."

518
00:24:43,127 --> 00:24:44,428
Mr. Carney:
Well, you know what, Major?

519
00:24:44,428 --> 00:24:45,761
For the 375,000 people who
visited the site by noon today,

520
00:24:45,761 --> 00:24:49,360
I think that they didn't need an
advertising campaign to visit.

521
00:24:49,361 --> 00:24:53,695
We firmly believed
and expected that,

522
00:24:53,695 --> 00:24:58,561
in this period in particular,
we would see many,

523
00:24:58,561 --> 00:25:03,360
many Americans looking at
their options and enrolling.

524
00:25:03,361 --> 00:25:07,928
And so our focus is on not
trying to advertise and get more

525
00:25:07,928 --> 00:25:10,061
Americans to do that, because
we're seeing those Americans

526
00:25:10,061 --> 00:25:12,727
show up already with a
demonstrated interest.

527
00:25:12,728 --> 00:25:16,161
Our focus is on making sure the
website works as effectively as

528
00:25:16,161 --> 00:25:19,461
possible, and that the other
means that they have available

529
00:25:19,461 --> 00:25:22,161
to them to enroll are working as
effectively as possible

530
00:25:22,161 --> 00:25:23,561
in this critical time.

531
00:25:23,561 --> 00:25:27,961
The Press:
So there's no need for
Families USA or labor unions

532
00:25:27,961 --> 00:25:31,795
or other groups, Enroll America,
to do anything to advocate

533
00:25:31,795 --> 00:25:32,795
for people to --

534
00:25:32,795 --> 00:25:34,027
Mr. Carney:
What I'm saying is that --

535
00:25:34,027 --> 00:25:35,994
and this goes
to your question --

536
00:25:35,994 --> 00:25:38,860
that on December 2nd
and this week,

537
00:25:38,861 --> 00:25:41,528
we do not see a need
to inform people of the fact

538
00:25:41,528 --> 00:25:46,928
that they can go to the website

539
00:25:46,928 --> 00:25:49,628
and look at their
options and enroll.

540
00:25:49,628 --> 00:25:50,828
So we're seeing --

541
00:25:50,828 --> 00:25:52,328
The Press:
What they need is
a functional website.

542
00:25:52,328 --> 00:25:53,494
Mr. Carney:
What's that?

543
00:25:53,494 --> 00:25:54,328
The Press:
What they need is
a functional website

544
00:25:54,328 --> 00:25:55,360
that can handle large capacity

545
00:25:55,361 --> 00:25:57,328
and help them
get enrolled, right?

546
00:25:57,328 --> 00:26:00,261
Mr. Carney:
Again, Major, the website --

547
00:26:00,261 --> 00:26:01,494
and I would point
you to the briefings,

548
00:26:01,494 --> 00:26:03,026
the many briefings
that Jeff Zients and others

549
00:26:03,027 --> 00:26:06,561
have given -- as
originally designed and as we're

550
00:26:06,561 --> 00:26:09,994
targeting for this period, so
that it was actually functioning

551
00:26:09,994 --> 00:26:11,895
as effectively as it
was supposed to function

552
00:26:11,895 --> 00:26:13,428
on October 1st,

553
00:26:13,428 --> 00:26:16,194
had numbers associated with
concurrent users

554
00:26:16,194 --> 00:26:20,226
and total visitors in a day
that we believe we can achieve.

555
00:26:20,227 --> 00:26:24,828
But surge periods were
always going to exceed that,

556
00:26:24,828 --> 00:26:28,561
which is why it was important
to make the improvements

557
00:26:28,561 --> 00:26:30,293
to the queuing
system that we made.

558
00:26:30,294 --> 00:26:34,294
So in a week like this, when
we expect heightened interest,

559
00:26:34,294 --> 00:26:38,695
and heightened interest
demonstrated by the number

560
00:26:38,695 --> 00:26:40,293
of visitors to the
website and the number

561
00:26:40,294 --> 00:26:42,728
of people trying
to enroll, we believe that --

562
00:26:42,728 --> 00:26:44,428
and I think the numbers
are bearing us out --

563
00:26:44,428 --> 00:26:48,594
that the focus this week
ought to be on making sure

564
00:26:48,594 --> 00:26:51,027
that those systems work
as effectively as possible.

565
00:26:51,027 --> 00:26:52,561
The Press:
Let me pick up on
that last sentence --

566
00:26:52,561 --> 00:26:53,561
the heightened
interest this week.

567
00:26:53,561 --> 00:26:55,061
People who are
close to the website

568
00:26:55,061 --> 00:26:59,461
and also on the projections
that you made internally view

569
00:26:59,461 --> 00:27:01,294
not this week, not next week,

570
00:27:01,294 --> 00:27:02,895
but two weeks from
now is a real crucial

571
00:27:02,895 --> 00:27:05,293
period of time,
because they believe --

572
00:27:05,294 --> 00:27:08,428
and the Massachusetts experience
reminds them of this --

573
00:27:08,428 --> 00:27:11,161
that for those who want
coverage by January 1st,

574
00:27:11,161 --> 00:27:13,161
there's probably going to
be an even bigger surge

575
00:27:13,161 --> 00:27:14,895
than we saw today or
likely to see this week

576
00:27:14,895 --> 00:27:18,227
from people probably from
December 15th to December 23rd,

577
00:27:18,227 --> 00:27:20,494
the final deadline
if you want your coverage

578
00:27:20,494 --> 00:27:22,093
to be effective on January 1st.

579
00:27:22,094 --> 00:27:25,194
So you've got to have this site
ready not just for this week

580
00:27:25,194 --> 00:27:28,161
but for what's projected even
internally here to be even

581
00:27:28,161 --> 00:27:32,027
larger numbers of people
who are not going to be sort of

582
00:27:32,027 --> 00:27:34,094
visiting the site, but
needing to get that coverage

583
00:27:34,094 --> 00:27:35,361
so they have it on January 1st.

584
00:27:35,361 --> 00:27:37,795
Are you confident,
is the President confident that

585
00:27:37,795 --> 00:27:39,961
the website is going to
be ready for that expected

586
00:27:39,961 --> 00:27:42,494
and projected surge of people?

587
00:27:42,494 --> 00:27:47,994
Mr. Carney:
We are confident that
we've achieved significant

588
00:27:47,994 --> 00:27:50,328
improvement in the website
and its functionality,

589
00:27:50,328 --> 00:27:53,561
as measured by the metrics
that we've gone over thus far,

590
00:27:53,561 --> 00:27:56,226
and that we will continue to
make progress and improvements

591
00:27:56,227 --> 00:27:58,328
to the website in the
days and weeks ahead.

592
00:27:58,328 --> 00:28:02,528
So you're absolutely right that
for those who want coverage on

593
00:28:02,528 --> 00:28:08,027
January 1st, they need to have
enrolled by December 23rd

594
00:28:08,027 --> 00:28:10,795
and obviously to have paid
their premium by the deadline

595
00:28:10,795 --> 00:28:12,661
set by their insurer, so --

596
00:28:12,661 --> 00:28:14,628
The Press:
And I'm told this is going
to be the biggest spike

597
00:28:14,628 --> 00:28:17,660
that this administration
will have seen in people coming

598
00:28:17,661 --> 00:28:19,795
to the website
and seeking coverage --

599
00:28:19,795 --> 00:28:21,761
bigger than they would see now.

600
00:28:21,761 --> 00:28:22,761
Mr. Carney:
That may be the case,

601
00:28:22,761 --> 00:28:24,494
but I would refer you
to the CMS briefings

602
00:28:24,494 --> 00:28:27,928
for what they might have
about their expectations.

603
00:28:27,928 --> 00:28:29,094
I think it's always
been the case,

604
00:28:29,094 --> 00:28:32,328
as we've anticipated this
even prior to the problems

605
00:28:32,328 --> 00:28:33,594
that we had with the website,

606
00:28:33,594 --> 00:28:39,227
that you would see relatively
small levels of enrollment

607
00:28:39,227 --> 00:28:40,861
in the first month --

608
00:28:40,861 --> 00:28:44,127
in our case, it was much smaller
even than the levels expected

609
00:28:44,127 --> 00:28:45,794
because of the problems
with the site --

610
00:28:45,795 --> 00:28:48,695
and that those numbers would
increase and that they would

611
00:28:48,695 --> 00:28:51,895
increase significantly as
we approach certain deadlines.

612
00:28:51,895 --> 00:28:54,795
December 23rd is one;
March 31st is another.

613
00:28:54,795 --> 00:28:57,027
The Press:
Would you agree that
that period and the

614
00:28:57,027 --> 00:28:59,294
usability of the site and the
functionality and whether people

615
00:28:59,294 --> 00:29:02,261
can get what they need by
December 23rd will be

616
00:29:02,261 --> 00:29:06,461
the next biggest test
of this entire process?

617
00:29:06,461 --> 00:29:08,428
Mr. Carney:
I would certainly agree that
that is an important period,

618
00:29:08,428 --> 00:29:12,661
that all these days in
December are important

619
00:29:12,661 --> 00:29:14,928
and every day from now until
March 31st is important,

620
00:29:14,928 --> 00:29:20,928
to make sure that everybody out
there who wants to enroll and

621
00:29:23,361 --> 00:29:25,561
then purchase quality,
affordable health insurance

622
00:29:25,561 --> 00:29:26,860
is able to do so.

623
00:29:26,861 --> 00:29:29,294
And it's on us to make sure
that they have the means and the

624
00:29:29,294 --> 00:29:31,127
tools necessary to do that.

625
00:29:31,127 --> 00:29:32,728
So that's why we're
continuing to work;

626
00:29:32,728 --> 00:29:35,795
that's why we continue to make
improvements and changes

627
00:29:35,795 --> 00:29:37,261
that we've made.

628
00:29:37,261 --> 00:29:39,895
We believe that the improvements
made thus far have been

629
00:29:39,895 --> 00:29:45,761
significant, that the website
as it functions today is vastly

630
00:29:45,761 --> 00:29:51,027
improved over what
it was on launch day.

631
00:29:51,027 --> 00:29:54,361
But we're going to continue to
work every day to make sure that

632
00:29:54,361 --> 00:29:59,861
the experiences for users
is as good as possible.

633
00:29:59,861 --> 00:30:01,127
The Press:
On China, real quickly --

634
00:30:01,127 --> 00:30:03,461
what does the administration
think is at stake right now?

635
00:30:03,461 --> 00:30:07,227
It's been a long time since
there's been any kind of even

636
00:30:07,227 --> 00:30:11,994
low-level sense of potential
military misunderstanding,

637
00:30:11,994 --> 00:30:14,660
military confusion, military
confrontation with China.

638
00:30:14,661 --> 00:30:17,294
What is at stake in this
situation right now?

639
00:30:17,294 --> 00:30:19,594
Mr. Carney:
Well, let me say that
the United States remains

640
00:30:19,594 --> 00:30:23,127
deeply concerned that China
announced the establishment of

641
00:30:23,127 --> 00:30:27,695
an East China Sea Air Defense
Identification Zone --

642
00:30:27,695 --> 00:30:30,093
that's the ADIZ
I mentioned earlier.

643
00:30:30,094 --> 00:30:33,561
This appears to be a provocative
attempt to unilaterally change

644
00:30:33,561 --> 00:30:35,794
the status quo
in the East China Sea,

645
00:30:35,795 --> 00:30:38,094
and thus raises regional
tensions and increases

646
00:30:38,094 --> 00:30:41,594
the risk of miscalculation,
confrontation, and accidents.

647
00:30:41,594 --> 00:30:44,461
We are consulting and
coordinating closely with Japan,

648
00:30:44,461 --> 00:30:45,461
the Republic of Korea

649
00:30:45,461 --> 00:30:47,928
and our friends and
allies in the region.

650
00:30:47,928 --> 00:30:52,161
China announced the ADIZ without
prior consultations even though

651
00:30:52,161 --> 00:30:55,628
the newly announced ADIZ
overlaps with parts of the

652
00:30:55,628 --> 00:31:00,061
longstanding ADIZs of Japan, the
Republic of Korea, and Taiwan,

653
00:31:00,061 --> 00:31:03,561
and includes territory
administered by Japan.

654
00:31:03,561 --> 00:31:06,994
We do not accept the legitimacy
of China's requirements

655
00:31:06,994 --> 00:31:10,394
for operating in the
newly declared ADIZ.

656
00:31:10,394 --> 00:31:13,361
And the fact that China's
announcement has caused

657
00:31:13,361 --> 00:31:17,428
confusion and increased the
risk of accidents only further

658
00:31:17,428 --> 00:31:20,728
underscores the validity of our
concerns and the need for China

659
00:31:20,728 --> 00:31:22,728
to rescind the procedures.

660
00:31:24,361 --> 00:31:27,328
As we have repeatedly said and
our actions have demonstrated,

661
00:31:30,461 --> 00:31:35,961
we believe that these kinds
of provocations create risk of

662
00:31:35,961 --> 00:31:43,094
miscalculation, and we don't
accept the legitimacy of what

663
00:31:43,094 --> 00:31:44,261
China announced.

664
00:31:44,261 --> 00:31:47,161
So the Vice President is
in the region, as you know,

665
00:31:47,161 --> 00:31:49,961
holding important meetings, and
we're obviously consulting --

666
00:31:49,961 --> 00:31:51,594
The Press:
Is he carrying that specific
message you just read?

667
00:31:51,594 --> 00:31:52,594
Mr. Carney:
Absolutely, yes.

668
00:31:52,594 --> 00:31:53,961
The Press:
Directly to Chinese leaders?

669
00:31:53,961 --> 00:31:55,528
Mr. Carney: Yes.

670
00:31:55,528 --> 00:31:57,828
The Press:
Can you square that with the
administration's recommendation

671
00:31:57,828 --> 00:32:00,895
that some of the civilian
aircraft identify

672
00:32:00,895 --> 00:32:03,994
and go through the procedures
that China has now requested,

673
00:32:03,994 --> 00:32:05,461
even though it
does not recognize

674
00:32:05,461 --> 00:32:08,594
and considers this ADIZ invalid?

675
00:32:08,594 --> 00:32:09,594
Mr. Carney: Yes.

676
00:32:09,594 --> 00:32:11,027
For safety and security
of passengers,

677
00:32:11,027 --> 00:32:14,528
U.S. carriers operating
internationally operate

678
00:32:14,528 --> 00:32:18,961
consistent with
notices to airmen

679
00:32:18,961 --> 00:32:20,294
issued by foreign countries.

680
00:32:20,294 --> 00:32:22,061
However --
and let me be clear --

681
00:32:22,061 --> 00:32:26,727
this in no way indicates U.S.
government acceptance of China's

682
00:32:26,728 --> 00:32:30,294
requirement in the
newly declared ADIZ,

683
00:32:30,294 --> 00:32:32,528
and has absolutely
no bearing on the firm

684
00:32:32,528 --> 00:32:34,628
and consistent U.S.
government position

685
00:32:34,628 --> 00:32:36,628
that we do not
accept the legitimacy

686
00:32:36,628 --> 00:32:38,461
of China's requirements.

687
00:32:38,461 --> 00:32:40,461
This is about the safety
and security of passengers;

688
00:32:40,461 --> 00:32:44,428
it is not an indication of
any change in our position.

689
00:32:44,428 --> 00:32:50,027
We do not accept the legitimacy
of China's requirements.

690
00:32:50,027 --> 00:32:51,828
The Press:
Jay, I just want to
go back to health care.

691
00:32:51,828 --> 00:32:53,761
It sounds like you
didn't meet the deadline,

692
00:32:53,761 --> 00:32:55,094
the more I listen
to your answers,

693
00:32:55,094 --> 00:32:57,961
because Ezekiel Emanuel
yesterday said the website

694
00:32:57,961 --> 00:33:01,127
is working "reasonably well;"
you say it's vastly improved,

695
00:33:01,127 --> 00:33:04,161
there's been
significant progress,

696
00:33:04,161 --> 00:33:08,328
but not necessarily that it's
working well and effectively

697
00:33:08,328 --> 00:33:11,094
for the vast majority
of users, as you acknowledged

698
00:33:11,094 --> 00:33:13,127
what Jim and Jon and
Major and others have said

699
00:33:13,127 --> 00:33:14,428
that people going on,

700
00:33:14,428 --> 00:33:16,027
they're still getting
the same error messages

701
00:33:16,027 --> 00:33:17,227
they got three days ago.

702
00:33:17,227 --> 00:33:18,728
Mr. Carney:
I think you're confusing
error messages

703
00:33:18,728 --> 00:33:19,961
with the queuing message,

704
00:33:19,961 --> 00:33:22,261
which is quite a
different thing entirely.

705
00:33:22,261 --> 00:33:27,027
The queue message is a specific
tool that was upgraded and

706
00:33:27,027 --> 00:33:31,027
improved to be more
sophisticated so that when there

707
00:33:31,027 --> 00:33:36,361
were surges in traffic on the
website and when the number of

708
00:33:36,361 --> 00:33:41,494
users reached a certain level
that people would get those

709
00:33:41,494 --> 00:33:42,928
messages that they
were placed in a queue,

710
00:33:42,928 --> 00:33:45,761
that if they wanted to enroll
there was a better time

711
00:33:45,761 --> 00:33:47,161
for them to come back.

712
00:33:47,161 --> 00:33:49,661
The Press:
I understand that, but
they're still not enrolling.

713
00:33:49,661 --> 00:33:52,594
They're in a different line
now, but they're not --

714
00:33:52,594 --> 00:33:53,961
Mr. Carney:
Well, actually,
Ed, I contest that

715
00:33:53,961 --> 00:33:56,561
and I would ask you
to find anywhere

716
00:33:56,561 --> 00:33:59,127
where I said that everybody
would be able to enroll

717
00:33:59,127 --> 00:34:01,428
instantly on this day.

718
00:34:01,428 --> 00:34:02,428
The Press:
What's the goal then?

719
00:34:02,428 --> 00:34:03,828
Just to keep moving
them into other lines?

720
00:34:03,828 --> 00:34:07,061
I mean, the goal is obviously
to enroll more people, right?

721
00:34:07,061 --> 00:34:08,060
Mr. Carney:
Absolutely.

722
00:34:08,061 --> 00:34:09,094
And those people
who want to enroll --

723
00:34:09,094 --> 00:34:10,695
The Press:
So if they're still waiting --

724
00:34:10,695 --> 00:34:12,294
Mr. Carney:
Ed, I would point
you to the fact

725
00:34:12,293 --> 00:34:16,860
that more people
are visiting the site

726
00:34:16,860 --> 00:34:20,860
and are able to effectively
go from beginning to end

727
00:34:20,860 --> 00:34:23,460
when it comes to enrolling
than was the case

728
00:34:23,460 --> 00:34:25,527
in October and in November.

729
00:34:25,527 --> 00:34:27,527
Significant improvements
have been made,

730
00:34:27,527 --> 00:34:30,895
and the vast majority
of users we believe are able

731
00:34:30,895 --> 00:34:34,226
to use the website and have it
function effectively for them.

732
00:34:34,226 --> 00:34:36,194
That does not mean and
we never said it would mean

733
00:34:36,194 --> 00:34:39,027
that there would be
no problems moving forward,

734
00:34:39,027 --> 00:34:40,695
that there would
never be an error message

735
00:34:40,695 --> 00:34:44,994
or a delayed response
for a page to load.

736
00:34:44,994 --> 00:34:47,728
That's certainly not the
case with even the most

737
00:34:47,728 --> 00:34:51,561
high-functioning commercial
websites of complexity and size.

738
00:34:51,561 --> 00:34:53,261
But what our goal is, is to make
sure that we continue to improve

739
00:34:53,261 --> 00:34:59,428
the overall experience,
because the purpose here

740
00:34:59,428 --> 00:35:01,728
is to make sure that Americans

741
00:35:01,728 --> 00:35:03,895
have access to quality and
affordable health insurance.

742
00:35:03,895 --> 00:35:06,528
And the healthcare.gov site
is an important part of that;

743
00:35:06,528 --> 00:35:07,694
it's not the only part.

744
00:35:07,695 --> 00:35:10,461
But we're continuing to
work every day to make the

745
00:35:10,461 --> 00:35:12,593
improvements that are necessary.

746
00:35:12,594 --> 00:35:13,961
The Press:
Quick question.

747
00:35:13,961 --> 00:35:16,493
You compare it to
the private sector.

748
00:35:16,494 --> 00:35:19,061
The progress report put out
by the administration over the

749
00:35:19,061 --> 00:35:21,394
weekend said, "The team is
operating with private sector

750
00:35:21,394 --> 00:35:22,528
velocity and effectiveness now."

751
00:35:22,528 --> 00:35:25,160
Can you reasonably expect
that it's working to that

752
00:35:25,161 --> 00:35:27,728
effectiveness, according to
the administration, with,

753
00:35:27,728 --> 00:35:31,695
by your own estimation, 24/7,
bringing in outside consultants?

754
00:35:31,695 --> 00:35:35,094
Is it reasonable to expect that
you can keep that same level of

755
00:35:35,094 --> 00:35:38,795
private sector velocity and
effectiveness, as you call it,

756
00:35:38,795 --> 00:35:42,561
over the next months, years, as
it's really the government doing

757
00:35:42,561 --> 00:35:43,761
it, not the private sector?

758
00:35:43,761 --> 00:35:46,227
This is a government
operation and it was

759
00:35:46,227 --> 00:35:47,828
not obviously working before.

760
00:35:47,828 --> 00:35:50,394
You now say it's working
with private sector velocity.

761
00:35:50,394 --> 00:35:54,394
Can you reasonably keep up
that pace in the days ahead?

762
00:35:54,394 --> 00:35:56,194
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say a couple
of things about that.

763
00:35:56,194 --> 00:35:58,494
The answer is, yes, we
can, in the days ahead,

764
00:35:58,494 --> 00:35:59,594
continue to work
around the clock,

765
00:35:59,594 --> 00:36:00,561
as we have in recent
days and weeks,

766
00:36:00,561 --> 00:36:01,928
to make the necessary
improvements.

767
00:36:01,928 --> 00:36:07,627
Two, what is absolutely the case
is that the private sector does

768
00:36:12,761 --> 00:36:17,828
some things very well and
better than the government can,

769
00:36:17,828 --> 00:36:21,561
and running effective
websites may be one of them,

770
00:36:21,561 --> 00:36:22,795
is one of them.

771
00:36:22,795 --> 00:36:26,161
What the Affordable Care Act
demonstrates is that it is

772
00:36:26,161 --> 00:36:29,494
important for government to take
action in order to, for example,

773
00:36:29,494 --> 00:36:31,161
do something the private
sector has failed to do,

774
00:36:31,161 --> 00:36:35,795
which is reduce the inflation
rate in health care costs.

775
00:36:35,795 --> 00:36:39,127
What we saw prior to the passage
of the Affordable Care Act was

776
00:36:39,127 --> 00:36:43,194
enormous increases annually in
the amount of money that this

777
00:36:43,194 --> 00:36:44,695
country spends on health care.

778
00:36:44,695 --> 00:36:47,461
And what we have seen since the
passage of the Affordable Care

779
00:36:47,461 --> 00:36:51,227
Act, contradicting every
prediction made by Republicans

780
00:36:51,227 --> 00:36:55,560
who opposed to it, is that the
costs of health care and the

781
00:36:55,561 --> 00:36:57,494
growth in those costs
have been declining.

782
00:36:57,494 --> 00:37:00,928
And that is a significant goal
set by the Affordable Care Act

783
00:37:00,928 --> 00:37:03,094
and a significant achievement
over these three years.

784
00:37:03,094 --> 00:37:06,428
These three years have seen the
lowest growth in health care

785
00:37:06,428 --> 00:37:10,194
costs of any time in
the past half-century.

786
00:37:10,194 --> 00:37:12,861
So we're going to keep --

787
00:37:12,861 --> 00:37:14,493
I mean, it goes to the --

788
00:37:14,494 --> 00:37:16,294
I think the heart
of the matter is,

789
00:37:16,294 --> 00:37:19,993
was the launch of the
website unsuccessful?

790
00:37:19,994 --> 00:37:21,361
The answer is yes.

791
00:37:21,361 --> 00:37:23,761
Was it absolutely our
responsibility to take every

792
00:37:23,761 --> 00:37:28,227
measure necessary to make the
fixes we could make so that

793
00:37:28,227 --> 00:37:31,060
that website functioned more
effectively for the Americans

794
00:37:31,061 --> 00:37:33,494
who want -- they don't
want an effective website;

795
00:37:33,494 --> 00:37:34,561
they want health insurance.

796
00:37:34,561 --> 00:37:36,027
They want affordable,
quality coverage.

797
00:37:36,027 --> 00:37:37,127
And that's what we're
working to achieve.

798
00:37:37,127 --> 00:37:38,328
The Press:
On that point, long term,

799
00:37:38,328 --> 00:37:40,661
not the short-term squabbles
now with Republicans --

800
00:37:40,661 --> 00:37:41,861
David Plouffe on Sunday

801
00:37:41,861 --> 00:37:44,328
was talking about the
subject of Medicaid expansion,

802
00:37:44,328 --> 00:37:47,361
and he said -- again,
he was talking about Medicaid,

803
00:37:47,361 --> 00:37:50,694
not necessarily the --
"It may take until 2017,

804
00:37:50,695 --> 00:37:52,127
when this President
leaves office.

805
00:37:52,127 --> 00:37:53,895
You're going to see almost
every state running

806
00:37:53,895 --> 00:37:56,361
their own exchanges,
expanding Medicaid,

807
00:37:56,361 --> 00:37:59,227
and I think it
will work really well then."

808
00:37:59,227 --> 00:38:01,795
Is that sort of the
long-term goal here,

809
00:38:01,795 --> 00:38:03,528
that it's going to take years?

810
00:38:03,528 --> 00:38:05,928
This is not months in terms
of not just Medicaid --

811
00:38:05,928 --> 00:38:08,127
Mr. Carney:
Well, when it comes
to Medicaid expansion,

812
00:38:08,127 --> 00:38:10,194
I think that David made
an important point,

813
00:38:10,194 --> 00:38:12,628
which is based
on the decision allowed

814
00:38:12,628 --> 00:38:14,795
by the Supreme Court ruling

815
00:38:14,795 --> 00:38:19,227
of a number of Republican
governors to cut their

816
00:38:19,227 --> 00:38:26,060
constituents out of the
possibility of getting covered

817
00:38:26,061 --> 00:38:27,594
through Medicaid.

818
00:38:27,594 --> 00:38:30,194
And what we have seen is a
number of Republican governors

819
00:38:30,194 --> 00:38:34,194
make the decision against the
ideological advice of their

820
00:38:34,194 --> 00:38:37,895
counterparts to expand Medicaid
coverage for their constituents

821
00:38:37,895 --> 00:38:40,628
in Ohio, in Florida and
Arizona and elsewhere.

822
00:38:40,628 --> 00:38:43,227
And what I think David Plouffe
was saying is that

823
00:38:43,227 --> 00:38:47,127
because of the wisdom of that
choice for those constituents,

824
00:38:47,127 --> 00:38:51,061
that eventually --
and I don't think 2017

825
00:38:51,061 --> 00:38:52,761
is that far in the distance

826
00:38:52,761 --> 00:38:54,528
when we're talking
about the number of states

827
00:38:54,528 --> 00:38:56,528
that still need to
make the decision to expand --

828
00:38:56,528 --> 00:38:58,560
that eventually that
decision will be made

829
00:38:58,561 --> 00:39:00,728
even by Republican governors,

830
00:39:00,728 --> 00:39:05,695
because there are millions of
Americans who are being left

831
00:39:05,695 --> 00:39:09,428
out of the possibility of
getting covered by Medicaid

832
00:39:09,428 --> 00:39:12,194
because of that very
political ideological decision

833
00:39:12,194 --> 00:39:13,561
some Republican governors made.

834
00:39:13,561 --> 00:39:18,328
And we're continuing to work
with states to urge them

835
00:39:18,328 --> 00:39:21,728
to provide that benefit
to their constituents.

836
00:39:21,728 --> 00:39:23,795
The Press:
But there are, as you know,

837
00:39:23,795 --> 00:39:29,328
other Democrats saying they'd
like to see improvement by 2014.

838
00:39:29,328 --> 00:39:31,061
They've got a big
election coming up.

839
00:39:31,061 --> 00:39:32,428
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, you
noted in your question

840
00:39:32,428 --> 00:39:35,194
that we're talking about
Medicaid and expansion --

841
00:39:35,194 --> 00:39:36,695
The Press:
But Medicaid is critical
to turn the corner

842
00:39:36,695 --> 00:39:38,094
on this whole thing.

843
00:39:38,094 --> 00:39:39,695
Mr. Carney:
Well, I don't think that's
what David was saying.

844
00:39:39,695 --> 00:39:41,561
We were going to see --
we have seen improvements.

845
00:39:41,561 --> 00:39:43,961
And I think that if you talk to
Democrats who are as frustrated

846
00:39:43,961 --> 00:39:46,328
as we are with the way the
launch of the website began,

847
00:39:46,328 --> 00:39:48,661
they would also say that
there have been significant

848
00:39:48,661 --> 00:39:50,961
improvements in the
functionality of the website

849
00:39:50,961 --> 00:39:55,528
and that we passed an important
milestone on November 30th.

850
00:39:55,528 --> 00:39:59,461
But that work continues,
and we're going to see those

851
00:39:59,461 --> 00:40:02,461
improvements continue
over the course of December

852
00:40:02,461 --> 00:40:03,627
and into next year,

853
00:40:03,628 --> 00:40:05,728
because as I think someone
noted earlier -- Major --

854
00:40:05,728 --> 00:40:07,461
about the deadlines
that we're looking at,

855
00:40:07,461 --> 00:40:08,560
we're looking at making
sure that those Americans

856
00:40:08,561 --> 00:40:13,194
who want insurance
through the exchanges

857
00:40:13,194 --> 00:40:15,628
have it if they
want it by January 1st,

858
00:40:15,628 --> 00:40:18,561
and also that everybody
who wants to enroll

859
00:40:18,561 --> 00:40:20,394
during the six-month
enrollment period

860
00:40:20,394 --> 00:40:23,294
is able to do so by March 31st.

861
00:40:23,294 --> 00:40:27,328
And I promise that beginning
tomorrow I'll do the back again.

862
00:40:27,328 --> 00:40:29,895
I'm sorry,
for those in the back.

863
00:40:29,895 --> 00:40:31,528
Yes.

864
00:40:31,528 --> 00:40:32,828
The Press:
Knowing that we've
discussed these last --

865
00:40:32,828 --> 00:40:34,828
you can be succinct in some
of your answers to these,

866
00:40:34,828 --> 00:40:36,795
but just to make clear that
I understand some things --

867
00:40:36,795 --> 00:40:40,361
the 375,000 number that
you brought to us today,

868
00:40:40,361 --> 00:40:42,227
do you have any sense of
what number of those people

869
00:40:42,227 --> 00:40:43,528
actually were able to
get through the site

870
00:40:43,528 --> 00:40:45,294
as far as they wanted
versus had to queue?

871
00:40:45,294 --> 00:40:47,361
Because many of the people
in this row, I guess,

872
00:40:47,361 --> 00:40:48,661
as they discussed,
who have tried,

873
00:40:48,661 --> 00:40:49,761
were among those
who had to queue.

874
00:40:49,761 --> 00:40:51,294
So 375,000 got to do
whatever they wanted,

875
00:40:51,294 --> 00:40:52,560
or just checked out the site?

876
00:40:52,561 --> 00:40:53,728
Mr. Carney:
I would refer you to CMS.

877
00:40:53,728 --> 00:40:55,994
That is an overall visitors
to the website figure,

878
00:40:55,994 --> 00:41:00,261
which I think simply
demonstrates the level

879
00:41:00,261 --> 00:41:02,728
of interest today,
which we anticipated.

880
00:41:02,728 --> 00:41:03,761
The Press:
Understood.

881
00:41:03,761 --> 00:41:04,761
We'll ask CMS.

882
00:41:04,761 --> 00:41:05,928
In the document,
as Ed just referred to,

883
00:41:05,928 --> 00:41:08,428
it says that the tech
team is able to work

884
00:41:08,428 --> 00:41:11,227
with private sector
velocity and effectiveness.

885
00:41:11,227 --> 00:41:14,560
Isn't that in the very language
that they used a concession

886
00:41:14,561 --> 00:41:16,828
or an indictment of
the way government works,

887
00:41:16,828 --> 00:41:19,828
that we're now --
only now able to achieve

888
00:41:19,828 --> 00:41:21,561
something similar to
what the private sector does?

889
00:41:21,561 --> 00:41:26,895
Mr. Carney:
I think it's an assessment
of how the website worked

890
00:41:26,895 --> 00:41:30,061
on October 1st
and that what Jeff Zients

891
00:41:30,061 --> 00:41:33,161
and those he's working
with set out to achieve

892
00:41:33,161 --> 00:41:34,861
by November 30th was --

893
00:41:34,861 --> 00:41:38,394
The Press:
But he said the tech team
is working at that level.

894
00:41:38,394 --> 00:41:40,060
He didn't say
the website is working

895
00:41:40,061 --> 00:41:41,428
at private sector velocity.

896
00:41:41,428 --> 00:41:42,694
Mr. Carney:
Well, the tech team
is working on the website.

897
00:41:42,695 --> 00:41:44,695
And I think as somebody with
a huge amount of experience

898
00:41:44,695 --> 00:41:46,194
in the private sector,

899
00:41:46,194 --> 00:41:48,895
Jeff is able to make
the assessment that he did --

900
00:41:48,895 --> 00:41:55,961
that we have a team that he's
managing, or helping manage,

901
00:41:55,961 --> 00:42:02,461
that is working at peak
effectiveness, if you will.

902
00:42:02,461 --> 00:42:06,160
And because of that,
they've been able to make some

903
00:42:06,161 --> 00:42:09,361
of the improvements that we
wanted to make and will continue

904
00:42:09,361 --> 00:42:12,394
to work to make sure that this
experience for those millions

905
00:42:12,394 --> 00:42:15,127
of Americans who want quality,
affordable health insurance

906
00:42:15,127 --> 00:42:16,261
continues to improve.

907
00:42:16,261 --> 00:42:19,928
The Press:
The CBO set a number
by March 31st --

908
00:42:19,928 --> 00:42:23,294
7 million uninsured Americans
would be able to sign up.

909
00:42:23,294 --> 00:42:24,428
That was their projection.

910
00:42:24,428 --> 00:42:26,361
It wasn't your projection;
it was their projection,

911
00:42:26,361 --> 00:42:28,694
but still ultimately
from this administration.

912
00:42:28,695 --> 00:42:33,094
Do you believe that that number
right now is still attainable?

913
00:42:33,094 --> 00:42:35,728
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, that was
CBO's projection, not ours.

914
00:42:35,728 --> 00:42:37,828
I'm not aware that we put
a numerical projection

915
00:42:37,828 --> 00:42:41,127
on what we hope
to see by March 31st.

916
00:42:41,127 --> 00:42:42,928
I think that --

917
00:42:42,928 --> 00:42:44,493
The Press:
I your number still attainable?

918
00:42:44,494 --> 00:42:48,428
Mr. Carney:
Our goal is to make
sure that everybody

919
00:42:48,428 --> 00:42:53,928
who wants to enroll through
the exchanges is able to do so

920
00:42:53,928 --> 00:42:55,594
during the open
enrollment period,

921
00:42:55,594 --> 00:42:58,461
and that we believe those
numbers will be sufficient

922
00:42:58,461 --> 00:43:02,727
and that the pool of people who
enroll will be of the necessary

923
00:43:02,728 --> 00:43:06,361
diversity to make sure that
the ACA works as envisioned --

924
00:43:06,361 --> 00:43:09,261
and that the exchanges,
rather, work as envisioned.

925
00:43:09,261 --> 00:43:12,294
So I would -- for some of
these numerical questions,

926
00:43:12,294 --> 00:43:14,795
the CMS briefing might
be a better place to go.

927
00:43:14,795 --> 00:43:19,861
But we believe that as we
continue to see improvements

928
00:43:19,861 --> 00:43:23,194
and we continue
to see Americans

929
00:43:23,194 --> 00:43:25,227
successfully
register and enroll,

930
00:43:25,227 --> 00:43:30,361
that we will begin to
make the progress necessary

931
00:43:30,361 --> 00:43:33,895
towards the kind
of population of people

932
00:43:33,895 --> 00:43:35,661
who are going
to avail themselves

933
00:43:35,661 --> 00:43:37,795
of insurance on the
exchanges that we hoped.

934
00:43:37,795 --> 00:43:38,994
The Press:
Finally, I want
to get your thoughts.

935
00:43:38,994 --> 00:43:40,961
Senator Dianne Feinstein
said when asked,

936
00:43:40,961 --> 00:43:43,093
"Are we safer now than
we were a year ago,

937
00:43:43,094 --> 00:43:45,795
or even two years ago,"
she said, "I don't think so.

938
00:43:45,795 --> 00:43:47,328
I think terror is up worldwide.

939
00:43:47,328 --> 00:43:49,127
The statistics indicate that.

940
00:43:49,127 --> 00:43:50,728
The fatalities are way up."

941
00:43:50,728 --> 00:43:51,795
She went on and on.

942
00:43:51,795 --> 00:43:53,761
I just want to get
a sense from you right now

943
00:43:53,761 --> 00:43:55,394
if you disagree
with that statement.

944
00:43:55,394 --> 00:43:56,560
Mr. Carney:
Well, I didn't
see that statement,

945
00:43:56,561 --> 00:43:59,428
but I can tell you that we share

946
00:43:59,428 --> 00:44:02,094
with Senator Feinstein
and every other lawmaker

947
00:44:02,094 --> 00:44:05,728
who focuses on these issues
the belief that we need

948
00:44:05,728 --> 00:44:10,828
to be intensely vigilant
as a nation in making sure that

949
00:44:10,828 --> 00:44:13,328
we're doing everything
we can to protect ourselves

950
00:44:13,328 --> 00:44:15,294
against those who
would do us harm.

951
00:44:15,294 --> 00:44:17,294
The Press:
So to be clear, are we safer?

952
00:44:24,795 --> 00:44:26,227
In your perspective --

953
00:44:26,227 --> 00:44:27,728
Mr. Carney:
Again, I don't
think that that work

954
00:44:27,728 --> 00:44:28,994
is ever done, Peter,

955
00:44:28,994 --> 00:44:30,728
and that every day that we
succeed in thwarting potential

956
00:44:30,728 --> 00:44:31,928
attacks against American
interests, Americans,

957
00:44:31,928 --> 00:44:34,928
our allies is important,
but that that work never ends

958
00:44:34,928 --> 00:44:38,928
and we are ever vigilant
as we combat the many threats

959
00:44:38,928 --> 00:44:41,528
that this country faces.

960
00:44:41,528 --> 00:44:44,660
The Press:
The White House has indicated
that when Jeff Zients

961
00:44:44,661 --> 00:44:48,361
moves to his NEC post that
someone would succeed him

962
00:44:48,361 --> 00:44:50,993
in the role of heading
up healthcare.gov.

963
00:44:50,994 --> 00:44:54,594
Could you tell us what
the White House is looking for

964
00:44:54,594 --> 00:44:58,061
in Zients's successor and
whether that person would report

965
00:44:58,061 --> 00:45:00,728
directly to the President?

966
00:45:00,728 --> 00:45:02,628
Mr. Carney:
The role, as I understand it,

967
00:45:02,628 --> 00:45:07,728
that Jeff has played and
continues to play will be filled

968
00:45:07,728 --> 00:45:12,194
when he leaves
and, as you noted,

969
00:45:12,194 --> 00:45:14,561
will take over as
Director of the NEC --

970
00:45:14,561 --> 00:45:18,027
because the President believes
and Secretary Sebelius believes

971
00:45:18,027 --> 00:45:21,061
that that is an important role,

972
00:45:21,061 --> 00:45:26,127
and that we have seen in
the way that Jeff has worked

973
00:45:26,127 --> 00:45:30,928
in that role that that
kind of management position

974
00:45:30,928 --> 00:45:33,795
needs to be filled even after he
comes over to the White House.

975
00:45:33,795 --> 00:45:38,594
I don't have -- I believe
that Jeff works for CMS

976
00:45:38,594 --> 00:45:41,061
in his current arrangement,

977
00:45:41,061 --> 00:45:43,994
so I don't have any information
on what the structure

978
00:45:43,994 --> 00:45:47,328
of that will look like for
that position moving forward.

979
00:45:47,328 --> 00:45:48,328
I don't know that it will look

980
00:45:48,328 --> 00:45:50,227
any different
than it does today.

981
00:45:50,227 --> 00:45:54,227
But it is correct that it
is the Secretary's intention

982
00:45:54,227 --> 00:45:56,993
and the President's intention
that that role continue

983
00:45:56,994 --> 00:45:59,528
to be filled after Jeff leaves.

984
00:45:59,528 --> 00:46:00,928
Mark.

985
00:46:00,928 --> 00:46:04,728
The Press:
Jay, has a decision been
made to delay Jeff Zients's

986
00:46:04,728 --> 00:46:08,928
movement from the website
special assignment

987
00:46:08,928 --> 00:46:11,728
to the White House, to the NEC?

988
00:46:11,728 --> 00:46:14,261
Mr. Carney:
I'm not sure that there was
a specific end date on that.

989
00:46:14,261 --> 00:46:17,661
I know that Jeff will come to
the White House early next year,

990
00:46:17,661 --> 00:46:24,094
and that when he does, that
position that he's filling now

991
00:46:24,094 --> 00:46:26,861
will be filled by a successor.

992
00:46:26,861 --> 00:46:28,795
The Press:
I noticed that last week,

993
00:46:28,795 --> 00:46:33,961
President Obama
and you today, and even Josh,

994
00:46:33,961 --> 00:46:38,261
were avoiding using
the word "Obamacare."

995
00:46:38,261 --> 00:46:40,695
Is that now --
you're avoiding that reference?

996
00:46:40,695 --> 00:46:41,761
Mr. Carney:
No, I think, in fact,

997
00:46:41,761 --> 00:46:43,061
after the initial
stories about that,

998
00:46:43,061 --> 00:46:45,928
I came out and talked about
Obamacare several times, so --

999
00:46:45,928 --> 00:46:47,828
The Press:
I know you did, but --

1000
00:46:47,828 --> 00:46:49,061
Mr. Carney:
No, I --

1001
00:46:49,061 --> 00:46:51,161
The Press:
But nobody is using
the word anymore.

1002
00:46:51,161 --> 00:46:52,828
Mr. Carney:
Look, I think what --

1003
00:46:52,828 --> 00:46:54,494
The Press:
Which word was it, Mark?

1004
00:46:54,494 --> 00:46:55,494
The Press:
Obamacare.

1005
00:46:55,494 --> 00:46:56,494
[laughter]

1006
00:46:56,494 --> 00:46:57,795
I was helping a colleague.

1007
00:46:57,795 --> 00:46:58,494
Mr. Carney:
I think we're going
to see this somewhere.

1008
00:46:58,494 --> 00:46:59,795
[laughter]

1009
00:46:59,795 --> 00:47:02,261
I think that -- I know I'm
fine with calling it Obamacare,

1010
00:47:02,261 --> 00:47:05,961
the President is fine with it.

1011
00:47:05,961 --> 00:47:11,127
We're focused on making
sure that the "care" part

1012
00:47:11,127 --> 00:47:13,828
is delivered to the
Americans who want it.

1013
00:47:13,828 --> 00:47:16,227
And whether it's the Affordable
Care Act or Obamacare

1014
00:47:16,227 --> 00:47:19,528
or anything else,
what matters to the President

1015
00:47:19,528 --> 00:47:24,727
is that the benefits
available to every Americans

1016
00:47:24,728 --> 00:47:25,895
who gets covered,

1017
00:47:25,895 --> 00:47:28,394
either through the exchanges
or has coverage already,

1018
00:47:28,394 --> 00:47:29,627
are delivered.

1019
00:47:29,628 --> 00:47:32,928
Now, let's not forget that
already millions of millions

1020
00:47:32,928 --> 00:47:36,394
of Americans, every one of us
who has insurance coverage,

1021
00:47:36,394 --> 00:47:38,660
already has benefits from
the Affordable Care Act --

1022
00:47:38,661 --> 00:47:40,661
from Obamacare.

1023
00:47:40,661 --> 00:47:45,461
That if you have a
child between 18 and 26,

1024
00:47:45,461 --> 00:47:49,727
that child is now able to stay
on your insurance coverage,

1025
00:47:49,728 --> 00:47:52,328
whereas before
he or she was not.

1026
00:47:52,328 --> 00:47:58,061
There are benefits when it
comes to the inability now

1027
00:47:58,061 --> 00:48:00,061
of insurers, because of
the Affordable Care Act,

1028
00:48:00,061 --> 00:48:06,328
to throw you off a plan or
deny you coverage if you have

1029
00:48:06,328 --> 00:48:08,194
a preexisting condition.

1030
00:48:08,194 --> 00:48:11,194
And the list of existing
benefits and benefits

1031
00:48:11,194 --> 00:48:14,261
that will kick in once
the exchanges kicks in is long.

1032
00:48:14,261 --> 00:48:15,594
And that's what
we're focused on.

1033
00:48:15,594 --> 00:48:18,294
We're focused on the care,
and we're focused on making sure

1034
00:48:18,294 --> 00:48:19,795
that the Americans --
the millions of Americans

1035
00:48:19,795 --> 00:48:22,227
who clearly want affordable,

1036
00:48:22,227 --> 00:48:23,528
quality health
insurance are able

1037
00:48:23,528 --> 00:48:25,895
to get access to
it and purchase it.

1038
00:48:25,895 --> 00:48:28,328
Yes, Margaret.

1039
00:48:28,328 --> 00:48:29,594
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

1040
00:48:29,594 --> 00:48:32,561
Can you give us an updated
estimate on how much it has cost

1041
00:48:32,561 --> 00:48:35,795
thus far to build and
to fix healthcare.gov?

1042
00:48:35,795 --> 00:48:37,561
Mr. Carney:
You would have to ask CMS.

1043
00:48:37,561 --> 00:48:41,094
I know that the -- as we've
talked about in the past,

1044
00:48:41,094 --> 00:48:43,861
that the tech surge,
the individuals who came in,

1045
00:48:43,861 --> 00:48:46,127
came in under existing
contracts with contractors.

1046
00:48:46,127 --> 00:48:48,428
But I don't have a figure on it.

1047
00:48:48,428 --> 00:48:50,661
The Press:
We actually have checked
with CMS and they've

1048
00:48:50,661 --> 00:48:54,994
referred us to budgeted
figures, so I'm just wondering,

1049
00:48:54,994 --> 00:48:57,428
if they were listening,
is it okay for them to give us

1050
00:48:57,428 --> 00:48:59,528
the updated actual figures?

1051
00:48:59,528 --> 00:49:01,328
Mr. Carney:
I'll have to refer you to CMS,

1052
00:49:01,328 --> 00:49:02,394
and I'll talk to CMS.

1053
00:49:02,394 --> 00:49:04,660
I just don't have that
information, Margaret.

1054
00:49:04,661 --> 00:49:06,127
The Press:
Whether it's through
the White House or CMS,

1055
00:49:06,127 --> 00:49:09,828
if we could get up-to-date
estimates, that would be great.

1056
00:49:09,828 --> 00:49:11,361
Mr. Carney:
Got it.

1057
00:49:11,361 --> 00:49:12,861
The Press:
Awesome, thanks.

1058
00:49:12,861 --> 00:49:14,728
Mr. Carney:
April, then Jon.

1059
00:49:14,728 --> 00:49:15,928
The Press:
Jay, on another subject.

1060
00:49:15,928 --> 00:49:19,294
Could you talk to us about
what the President is doing

1061
00:49:19,294 --> 00:49:22,361
in efforts to try to stave off
another government shutdown?

1062
00:49:22,361 --> 00:49:25,127
Because we understand there
are possibilities of some --

1063
00:49:25,127 --> 00:49:27,261
maybe a couple days
after January 15th,

1064
00:49:27,261 --> 00:49:30,027
that there could be
a situation like there was

1065
00:49:30,027 --> 00:49:32,494
a couple of weeks ago.

1066
00:49:32,494 --> 00:49:34,628
Mr. Carney:
Well, I'd say
a couple of things.

1067
00:49:34,628 --> 00:49:37,961
One, it is hard to imagine
that Republicans would want

1068
00:49:37,961 --> 00:49:41,294
to go down that road again,
and I think a number of leading

1069
00:49:41,294 --> 00:49:43,661
Republicans have assured
the American people

1070
00:49:43,661 --> 00:49:46,027
that they would not
shut the government down again

1071
00:49:46,027 --> 00:49:51,928
over an ideological pursuit.

1072
00:49:51,928 --> 00:49:56,694
So we are working with the
relevant members of Congress

1073
00:49:56,695 --> 00:49:57,928
and committees and leaders

1074
00:49:57,928 --> 00:50:03,761
to try to find an agreement
on the budget that ensures

1075
00:50:03,761 --> 00:50:07,528
that we make the
investments necessary

1076
00:50:07,528 --> 00:50:08,560
to help our economy grow,

1077
00:50:08,561 --> 00:50:11,227
that we make the
right choices when it comes

1078
00:50:11,227 --> 00:50:15,928
to how we fund the variety
of things the government does.

1079
00:50:15,928 --> 00:50:18,560
But I don't have a progress
report on that except that we

1080
00:50:18,561 --> 00:50:21,895
would certainly agree with those
Republican leaders who have said

1081
00:50:21,895 --> 00:50:25,428
since the debacle that they
imposed on the American economy

1082
00:50:25,428 --> 00:50:27,761
and the American
middle class ended,

1083
00:50:27,761 --> 00:50:29,828
that they won't do that again.

1084
00:50:29,828 --> 00:50:31,994
The Press:
The President was asked
by Brianna Keilar the night

1085
00:50:31,994 --> 00:50:34,428
that he came out saying
the shutdown was over --

1086
00:50:34,428 --> 00:50:36,828
he was asked, should we
expect this to happen again?

1087
00:50:36,828 --> 00:50:38,861
Walking out of that
door, he said no.

1088
00:50:38,861 --> 00:50:42,993
What is this White House doing
to prevent that from happening?

1089
00:50:42,994 --> 00:50:47,027
Mr. Carney:
Well, again, if I would
refer you back to that

1090
00:50:47,027 --> 00:50:50,761
experience, that we
ask for nothing in return

1091
00:50:50,761 --> 00:50:52,027
for keeping the government open.

1092
00:50:52,027 --> 00:50:56,861
And we have from the beginning
of the year made clear

1093
00:50:56,861 --> 00:50:59,795
that we are willing,
when it comes to budget deals,

1094
00:50:59,795 --> 00:51:03,294
to make reasonable
compromise to ensure

1095
00:51:03,294 --> 00:51:06,761
that the economy
grows faster, creates more jobs,

1096
00:51:06,761 --> 00:51:08,461
that the middle
class is more secure,

1097
00:51:08,461 --> 00:51:09,761
and that we make
the kind of investments

1098
00:51:09,761 --> 00:51:12,695
that help our economy grow,
not just now but in the future.

1099
00:51:12,695 --> 00:51:17,661
And the only side in
this ideological debate,

1100
00:51:17,661 --> 00:51:21,895
or in this debate that had put
forward a comprehensive plan

1101
00:51:21,895 --> 00:51:26,695
that included both -- all the
elements that we've talked about

1102
00:51:26,695 --> 00:51:28,528
over the last several
years was the President's.

1103
00:51:28,528 --> 00:51:30,794
So we continue to
negotiate in good faith,

1104
00:51:30,795 --> 00:51:33,928
and we hope and believe that the
Republicans who said that they

1105
00:51:33,928 --> 00:51:36,328
would not shut the government
down again meant it

1106
00:51:36,328 --> 00:51:37,961
when they said it.

1107
00:51:37,961 --> 00:51:41,160
The Press:
And Democrats are saying that
$90 billion is just too much.

1108
00:51:41,161 --> 00:51:44,061
What would the White House
say was a good number

1109
00:51:44,061 --> 00:51:47,261
that they could work with
that is acceptable to deal with

1110
00:51:47,261 --> 00:51:49,861
when it comes to budget cuts?

1111
00:51:49,861 --> 00:51:53,060
Mr. Carney:
Ninety -- I'm not sure
specifically what --

1112
00:51:53,061 --> 00:51:55,361
The Press:
According to those who
are wrangling this out

1113
00:51:55,361 --> 00:51:57,993
on the Hill, Republicans
want to cut $90 billion,

1114
00:51:57,994 --> 00:52:01,994
and they're saying that's
just too much money to cut.

1115
00:52:01,994 --> 00:52:03,994
Mr. Carney:
I don't have specific
information for you

1116
00:52:03,994 --> 00:52:05,761
about negotiations,
and if I did,

1117
00:52:05,761 --> 00:52:07,428
I wouldn't
negotiate from here, but --

1118
00:52:07,428 --> 00:52:09,261
The Press:
I'm not asking
you to negotiate.

1119
00:52:09,261 --> 00:52:10,661
I'm just asking for information.

1120
00:52:10,661 --> 00:52:11,861
Mr. Carney:
Well, I think the President
has been very clear

1121
00:52:11,861 --> 00:52:12,928
about his priorities.

1122
00:52:12,928 --> 00:52:13,861
I just don't have any
more for you on that.

1123
00:52:13,861 --> 00:52:14,861
Jon.

1124
00:52:14,861 --> 00:52:15,861
The Press:
Thanks, Jay.

1125
00:52:15,861 --> 00:52:17,394
Has the President
signed up for Obamacare,

1126
00:52:17,394 --> 00:52:19,993
or the Affordable Care Act?

1127
00:52:19,994 --> 00:52:21,761
Mr. Carney:
I don't have an update
for you on that.

1128
00:52:21,761 --> 00:52:24,561
I know that he will,
and has said that he will --

1129
00:52:24,561 --> 00:52:25,861
or the White House
has said that he will,

1130
00:52:25,861 --> 00:52:26,928
but I don't have an update.

1131
00:52:26,928 --> 00:52:28,493
The Press:
Do you know what
he's waiting for?

1132
00:52:28,494 --> 00:52:31,561
And when he does do that,
will you make it open press?

1133
00:52:31,561 --> 00:52:34,428
[laughter]

1134
00:52:34,428 --> 00:52:39,194
Mr. Carney:
I'll get back to you.

1135
00:52:39,194 --> 00:52:40,194
Andrei.

1136
00:52:40,194 --> 00:52:41,194
The Press:
Thank you, Jay.

1137
00:52:41,194 --> 00:52:42,294
Yes.

1138
00:52:42,294 --> 00:52:43,928
On Ukraine, the Prime
Minister of their country

1139
00:52:43,928 --> 00:52:47,728
has called in some ambassadors
and said that the way

1140
00:52:47,728 --> 00:52:52,194
they look at
the recent events --

1141
00:52:52,194 --> 00:52:58,194
the events have all the
hallmarks of a coup attempt,

1142
00:53:00,728 --> 00:53:02,061
a potential coup attempt.

1143
00:53:02,061 --> 00:53:04,027
Basically, my question to you:
Is the White House interested

1144
00:53:04,027 --> 00:53:06,594
in any more color
revolutions in any --

1145
00:53:06,594 --> 00:53:07,728
Mr. Carney:
Well, we certainly
don't consider

1146
00:53:07,728 --> 00:53:08,961
peaceful demonstrations
coup attempts.

1147
00:53:08,961 --> 00:53:10,294
The violence by government
authorities against peaceful

1148
00:53:10,294 --> 00:53:11,661
demonstrators in Kiev
on Saturday morning

1149
00:53:11,661 --> 00:53:12,861
was unacceptable.

1150
00:53:12,861 --> 00:53:14,661
While we note that the police
have generally exercised

1151
00:53:14,661 --> 00:53:17,828
restraint since then, there
have been a number of disturbing

1152
00:53:17,828 --> 00:53:20,061
reports of journalists and
members of the media being

1153
00:53:20,061 --> 00:53:23,161
targeted and assaulted
by security forces.

1154
00:53:23,161 --> 00:53:25,728
We urge Ukraine's leaders to
respect their people's right

1155
00:53:25,728 --> 00:53:28,161
to freedom of expression
and assembly.

1156
00:53:28,161 --> 00:53:31,061
These are fundamental to
a healthy democracy and the

1157
00:53:31,061 --> 00:53:34,394
respect for universal values
on which the United States'

1158
00:53:34,394 --> 00:53:36,828
partnership with
Ukraine depends.

1159
00:53:36,828 --> 00:53:39,928
Consistent with the principles
embodied by the OSCE,

1160
00:53:39,928 --> 00:53:43,394
we call on the government of
Ukraine to foster a positive

1161
00:53:43,394 --> 00:53:46,127
environment for civil society
and to protect the rights

1162
00:53:46,127 --> 00:53:49,061
of all Ukrainians to express
their views on their country's

1163
00:53:49,061 --> 00:53:52,728
future in a constructive
and peaceful manner in Kiev

1164
00:53:52,728 --> 00:53:55,261
and in other parts
of the country.

1165
00:53:55,261 --> 00:53:58,027
Violence and intimidation
should have no place

1166
00:53:58,027 --> 00:53:59,761
in today's Ukraine.

1167
00:53:59,761 --> 00:54:02,695
We continue to support the
aspirations of the Ukrainian

1168
00:54:02,695 --> 00:54:06,628
people to achieve a
prosperous European democracy.

1169
00:54:06,628 --> 00:54:11,127
European integration is the
surest course to economic growth

1170
00:54:11,127 --> 00:54:14,094
and to strengthening
Ukraine's democracy.

1171
00:54:14,094 --> 00:54:17,594
The Press:
What tools do you expect to
use to promote that message?

1172
00:54:17,594 --> 00:54:19,994
Mr. Carney:
I just used one
of them right now.

1173
00:54:19,994 --> 00:54:21,027
[laughter]

1174
00:54:21,027 --> 00:54:22,194
Thanks very much.