Illinois Far Short on Obamacare Workers

Illinois officials say only a fraction of the expected army of outreach workers will be certified and ready Tuesday to help people enroll for insurance under President Barack Obama's health care law.

Kelly Sullivan is a spokeswoman for a new Illinois insurance marketplace. She told The Associated Press that only "around 100 navigators" will be certified by Saturday. She said they will work to certify "hundreds more" by Tuesday's launch of the health program.

Officials had originally said that 1,200 outreach workers would be trained and certified by that date.

The workers are important because the enrollment process is complicated and many consumers will need assistance. Tuesday is the first day of open enrollment for new health insurance options under the health law.