Early Glitches In Health Insurance Website

 Illinoisans moving early to sign up for health insurance on a new marketplace are running into a few anticipated glitches.

Sue Winking of Quincy tried for an hour at home but kept running into error messages on the marketplace website. The 55-year-old unemployed woman says she is patient and will keep trying.

Helen January arrived early to register at a west-side Chicago clinic. The 57-year-old part-time worker from Melrose Park was helped by a trained staffer but couldn't complete the process because of a website glitch.  

Consumers couldn't get beyond initial screens, and some reported waits of 20 minutes on a hotline set up to assist them.  

The marketplace is a key component of the new federal health care law.  Consumers can shop online for plans and rates, and learn if they qualify for federal tax credits.    A spokeswoman says a state call center handled about 40 callers with no issues.

Gov. Pat Quinn says the launch of the marketplace marks a "historic'' day that will change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans.   He commented on the early problems with the insurance marketplace, saying glitches are part of any new endeavor.