Consumers couldn’t access parts of the U.S. government’s online insurance exchange Monday, after a weekend of technical upgrades failed to eliminate delays in the hobbled system at the heart of the health care overhaul.

Lessons from Massachusetts’ initial rollout of its exchange seven years ago may portend what’s to come for national enrollment. While few are enrolled, 8.6 million people went to the main government website portal last week.

Will Heavin averaged 5-6 inquires a day last week, all from developing signage and opening his office doors for the public to walk in and find out about the exchanges.

Eager to meet client needs — and keep their business — brokers hunt for information on individual exchanges, but are cautioned not to ignore the SHOP market.

On Facebook, brokers were quick to share their experiences of looking at and attempting to work with the exchanges.

Questions arise about phone enrollment on the East Coast, while the West Coast deals with a backlog that’s left brokers without necessary certification.

Technical difficulties leave advisers in the dark as they scramble to answer client questions on the launch of the ACA’s health insurance exchanges

The lights are out at the federal government, but what implications does the shutdown have for employers who have daily business to pursue with the federal government and agencies?

Broker specializing in the market predicts widespread adverse impact.

High visitor traffic and technical problems plague exchange launch day in many states, giving new ammunition to Republicans critical of the law, but showing “how important” the law is, president counters.

The ‘Obamacare’ insurance exchanges got off to a rocky start, with many websites meant to provide new access to the uninsured seeing delays or breakdowns.

The three-year effort to open the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges culminates today, beset by logistical delays and efforts by Republicans to shut down the U.S. government in protest.

Benefits advisers for government contractors say employees will be impacted in the way of retirement savings and more.

Some brokers are eager to start enrollment on Oct. 1 and others want to wait and see what happens, but either way, no one expects people to be knocking down their doors on the first day.

The degree of success will be how well the industry does in solving the “annuity puzzle.”

The U.S. government stands poised for its first partial shutdown in 17 years at midnight tonight, after a weekend with no signs of negotiations or compromise from either the House or Senate to avert it.

What’s next for the ACA’s health insurance exchanges and how will employers respond?

Small businesses won’t be able to enroll in new online health insurance marketplaces until Nov. 1 in most U.S. states, the latest delay for the Obama administration’s signature health care law.

Find out more on these ongoing legal spats over the Affordable Care Act and how employers are involved in the arguments.

Creating a smart consumer takes more than health care reform and adopting a consumer-driven health plan.