Private Health Insurance Exchanges: Prospects and Problems

The researchers conducted a qualitative analysis on the current state and potential future of private health insurance exchanges. Using in-depth key informant interviews, document and data review and legal research, they examined a variety of public policy issues related to private exchanges, including: (1) improved market competition versus weakened consumer protections; (2) employer sponsorship and ACA exchange participation; (3) the role of defined contributions; (4) spillover effects with public exchanges; and (5) legal/regulatory barriers versus loopholes. The goal of this project was to inform state and federal officials and other policy actors about the current state and potential future of private health insurance exchanges, including possible measures to improve their benefit or mitigate negative effects.