Consumers May Face Delays with Maine’s Federally-Run Health Care Exchange

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Consumers trying to sign up for coverage on Maine’s federally-run health care exchange may experience some brief delays as heavy traffic slows down the website.

Tuesday marks the first day of enrollment on the exchange, or marketplace, a key component of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Health Care Act.

Consumers seeking information from the exchange received messages saying ‘‘please wait’’ for several minutes or the ‘‘system is down.’’

Joseph Ditre of Augusta-based Consumers for Affordable Health Care says the delays show the heavy interest in the exchange. He says consumers can sign up by phone or through organization like a community health center and should remember they have until Dec. 15 to enroll and still be covered by Jan. 1.