‘Public’ health insurance exchanges

 

The ACA included a provision for every state to have a public health insurance exchange. Each state has an exchange (although only 17 states are running their own exchanges – most of the exchanges will be run by HHS or a partnership between the state and HHS).

 

These exchanges will be a marketplace for both individual and small-group health insurance. Although they are called public exchanges, their health plans are offered by private health insurance carriers, including many of the big-name carriers that you’ve known about for years.

 

For individual health insurance coverage, people will be able to shop within their state’s exchange and choose from a variety ofqualified health plans.

 

The exchanges will be the place where applicants can compare plans, enroll in coverage, and receive premium and cost-sharing subsidies if they are eligible.

 

http://www.healthinsurance.org/learn/know-your-health-insurance-exchanges/