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(CNSNews.com) – Attempts to apply online for an insurance plan on HealthCare.gov are met with the message: “The system is down at the moment. We are experiencing technical difficulties and hope to have them resolved soon. Please try again later.”

But the link to the page entitled “Look what we’re doing to improve healthcare.gov” is functioning, and Americans are responding to the blog “Doing Better: Making Improvements to HealthCare.gov.”

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“Over the past two and a half weeks, millions of Americans visited HealthCare.gov to look at their new health care options under the Affordable Care Act,” the blog states. “In that time, nearly half a million applications for coverage have been submitted from across the nation.

“This tremendous interest – with over 19 million unique visits to date to HealthCare.gov– confirms that the American people are looking for quality, affordable health coverage, and want to find it online,” the blog states.

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“Unfortunately, the experience on HealthCare.gov has been frustrating for many Americans,” the blog states. “Some have had trouble creating accounts and logging in to the site, while others have received confusing error messages, or had to wait for slow page loads or forms that failed to respond in a timely fashion.

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“The initial consumer experience of HealthCare.gov has not lived up to the expectations of the American people,” the blog states. “We are committed to doing better.”

Visitors are invited to “Join the Conversation,” and they are doing just that. The following are comments, which cannot be confirmed as actual individuals but all are logging in with first and sometimes last names:

Submitted by Dan on Fri, 2013-10-25 15:54 BC/BS has canceled my plan effective 12/31. I can get another plan that cost 30% more and a 12,000 max out of pocket cost. My wife and I are both retired and live on fixed incomes and the cost for health insurance is 25% of what we will make so we canceled our insurance. Thought health insurance was going to be cheaper under the president's plan. Can you help? Submitted by Lisa on Fri, 2013-10-25 15:26 What a horrible website. It took me over two weeks to even log in with an account, and now all I get after logging in is a blank white page. I have never been able to see any options for a policy. Why was this not all tested well before opening? Ridiculous! Submitted by Michelle on Fri, 2013-10-25 14:08 Same exact thing! I waited too long? 23 minutes? If I didn't know better, I'd think I was being punked. I am a professional with a doctorate degree and I have found this site to be the worst online experience I have ever had. I feel horrible for people who don't have advanced Internet and computer skills, how frustrating it must be. Disgraceful... Submitted by Max on Fri, 2013-10-25 10:52 I am still having problems logging on....it keeps telling me that the information isn't "VALID" however I am very careful each time I attempt to log-in, always to no avail. Also, in comparing the "estimated" monthly plans for BCBS Nebraska on your site...I am finding that the rates you are showing are at least $30.00 less than the letter I received from BCBS....which I find mis-leading. The BCBS rep relayed to me that costs are based on AGE and whether or not I have "one leg in the grave"....already. (Yes - he really said that!) I have been healthy and only claim for my annual physical - yet they want to charge me $245.34 more to meet the "essentials" and have eliminated my current plan, which has only cost me $85.66. I sure wish "someone" could explain how this is "affordable". I am 53 years old, do not need maternity care nor mental health benefits....yet I have to pay out more $$ as of January 1st. Also, I wish this site would refrain from saying due to the "tremendous" interest.....as I believe most people don't have an interest....as many are just normal Americans, who have to abide by the law....

A small number of comments are positive, including one from a retired software engineer and a man who compared paying off his children’s college loans to getting a policy through HealthCare.gov.