I spent the last weekend on vacation in Boston, enjoying holiday time with my parents, who spend a great deal of their retirement there. It was a busy, long weekend: We saw the Boston Pops holiday concert, "A Christmas Story: the Musical" and a play; ate seafood; shopped for Christmas gifts along Boylston and Newbury streets — and browsed for Obamacare coverage.

Guess which one was the most frustrating experience? (And I hate – hate! – hordes of people, so busy mall shopping isn't ideal.)

See, my mom needs to buy an individual health plan through PPACA. She's been getting cancellation notices all year — the plan she has right now (that she likes) expires in March — and she's a few years shy of qualifying for Medicare. Since I was with them, my dad suggested, you know, since I write about this stuff, that I lend a hand in looking for coverage through the exchange (thanks, Dad!).