mmegaera | idiotic, just idiotic

Did you know that the Washington State Health Care Exchange website will not take names that are first initial, middle name, last name? My name, what's on my social security card, is first initial, middle name, last name. When I try to fill out the online form for the health exchange, the form kicks me back out because a) the form does not take punctuation in names, or b) the first name has to be at least two characters. So I can't put my name in with or without the period. I refuse to mangle my name any further than that, to the point where it won't match my social security card, just to fit their damned form either.

I have emailed the exchange multiple times. The only answer I got told me to put the initial in without punctuation, which does not work because first names have to have at least two letters. When I emailed back to say so, I never got a response. I have called almost daily for the last three weeks and not been able to get through, either.

This has got to be the most idiotic reason for not being able to sign up for health insurance ever.

I have contacted Get Jesse (a local TV station's problem solver guy) and my state legislators. I am not holding my breath for either one.

But I need to get this settled by the end of December, as without going through the exchange my premiums will double.

I really like the concept of health care reform, and I realize the current kafoffle will blow over and things will settle down, but this is ridiculous.

ETA: I just received a call from my state legislator's office as I was writing this less than half an hour after I emailed him. His assistant is promising to look into it for me. I'm pleasantly, absolutely gobsmacked.