It appears that the president has symbolically enrolled in his own health insurance program, according to the White House.

The Hill:

President Obama enrolled in a "bronze" ObamaCare plan over the weekend in a move the White House described as a "symbolic" gesture designed to promote enrollment.

According to a White House official, the president enrolled in the District of Columbia marketplace and selected from among the lowest-cost options available.

The White House said the president's plan costs less than $400 per month.

"The act of the president signing up for insurance coverage through the DC exchange is symbolic, since the president's healthcare will continue to be provided by the military," the official said. "But, he was pleased to participate in a plan as a show of support for these marketplaces, which are providing quality, affordable health care options to more than a million people."

A White House official said Obama's staff helped him sign up for a plan.

"Like some Americans, the complicated nature of the president's case required an in-person sign-up," the official said. "As you'd expect, the president's personal information is not readily available in the variety of government databases HealthCare.gov uses to verify identities."

Obama did not enroll first lady Michelle Obama or his daughters, Sasha and Malia. Like the president, the rest of the first family receives free health insurance for life from the military.

OK - good for him. There's only one problem, though; the president's staff didn't "assist him." They were the ones who signed him up, the president being indisposed as a result of his departure on Friday for his Hawaiian vacation.

But Obama did not directly sign up for insurance. Rather, his staff went in person to sign him up, an official told POLITICO.

"Like some Americans, the complicated nature of the president's case required an in-person sign-up," the official said. "As you'd expect, the president's personal information is not readily available in the variety of government databases HealthCare.gov uses to verify identities."

Obama signed up for coverage only for himself and not for the rest of the first family, and will pay a premium that's under $400 per month, the official said.

Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett told American Urban Radio Networks that the president is "leading by example" by selecting coverage before the deadline to get coverage that takes effect on Jan. 1.

So in the end, Obama didn't have to mess with the dysfunctional website at all; he just palmed the job off to his staff. If you want symbolism, the image of a president failing to lead even by example is a good one for the entire administration.