When the smiling face of the brunette woman on the federal health care exchange website was replaced with computerized icons, people took notice and wondered who she was and where she went. Now, the woman is speaking out, claiming she was a victim of cyberbullying.
And as if detractors needed any more ammunition, she’s not a citizen and isn’t signed up for Obamacare.
Health Care Website Model
In this Friday, Oct. 11, 2013 computer frame grab, the HealthCare.gov website is displayed. The model whose face appeared on the much-maligned Obama health care website says she felt intimidated by harsh public criticism of the program. The woman, who identified herself only as “Adriana” in an interview with ABC News, says she was never paid for appearing on the website’s home page. (AP/HealthCare.gov)
The woman, who identified herself only as “Adriana” in an interview with ABC News, said she was never paid for appearing on the website’s home page.
“I’m here to stand up for myself and defend myself and let people know the truth,” she told ABC.
Adriana, who is from Colombia but living legally in the U.S., said in the interview broadcast Wednesday that reaction to the website amounted to, “some form of bullying.” She said she doesn’t know “why people should hate me because it’s just a photo.”
adriana
Adriana, who requested her last name not be used, spoke with ABC News about what it was like to have her face front and center on Healthcare.gov. (Image source: ABC News)
Adriana voluntarily provided a contact at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services with family photos. She was notified in the summer that her photo would be used on Healthcare.gov.
Adriana said she has lived in the U.S. for more than six years and is applying for citizenship. She is eligible to sign up for Obamacare but has not done so. The wife and mother living in Maryland told ABC she doesn’t have a position for or against the Affordable Care Act.
Watch ABC’s Amy Robach speak with Adriana:
Adriana’s photo was removed in late October, replaced with more generic images, which the woman said “was a relief.”
A Health and Human Services spokesperson told ABC Adriana’s photo was removed not at her request but because “Healthcare.gov is a dynamic website.”
“They didn’t ruin my life. I still have a job, I’m still married,” Adriana told ABC about the public reaction to her photo. “That didn’t really crush me to the ground. I’m fine. Now I laugh about it.”
The federal health care exchange website has been the subject of scorn by both Republicans and Democrats as technical problems have sharply restricted the number of people who have signed up for new program. Congress has been holding hearings on the issue.
The Associated Press contributed to this report