The Washington Healthplanfinder bus tour hits Olympia Sunday.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is on what the Washington Post is calling a “’National Damage Control Tour,” trying to defend the problems with the federal health exchange. Meanwhile the state health exchange is on the road with mobile enrollment events promoting the state’s site, Washington Healthplanfinder.

On Sunday it was at the Farmers Market in Olympia. The colorful trailer and information booths looked sharp, and computers and human assistance were available for those who wanted to fill out applications, but the feds even ruined that. Later in the day the state website went down and according to state exchange staff the problem was at the federal level where the information systems connect.

Monday morning and the state website is still down.

It’s been a tough time for the state health exchange with shutdowns the first week, a number of minor website application form problems, and a major problem with the subsidy calculator for low income applicants that was not corrected until three weeks after the launch. But the problems pale in comparison with the federal problems which wil not be corrected before the end of November.

In order to begin coverage on January 1, applications for health insurance must be filled out by December 15. Even when the state website is not working, people can call the toll-free Customer Support Center at 1-855 923-4633.

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