In a symbolic step, President Barack Obama has signed up for health insurance through the new exchanges created by his health care overhaul.
The White House says Obama signed up through the Washington, D.C., marketplace over the weekend. Because he signed up in private, without reporters present, it was unclear whether Obama encountered any of the website glitches that millions of other Americans have experienced.
Obama, through a staff member, reportedly elected a lower-cost bronze plan offered through an exchange in the District of Columbia. However, technically, the commander-in-chief already has insurance through the military.
On vacation in Hawaii, Obama said he "was pleased to participate in a plan as a show of support for these marketplaces, which are providing quality, affordable healthcare options to more than a million people," officials said.
According to Politico, a staff member went to an exchange office, in person, to sign up Obama.
"Like some Americans, the complicated nature of the president's case required an in-person sign up," the official said. "As you'd expect, the president's personal information is not readily available in the variety of government databases HealthCare.gov uses to verify identities."
The president will pay a premium for personal coverage (excluding his family) of less than $400 monthly.
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Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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