Most states to maintain federal ACA marketplaces in 2015

As states begin making plans for the next ACA open enrollment period beginning Nov. 15, most that are currently relying on the federal government to manage their health insurance marketplaces plan will continue with the same arrangement (Source: “Most States To Rely On Federal Website For 2015 Enrollment,” Kaiser Health News, April 24, 2014)

Only two of the 36 states that relied on the federal insurance exchange this year -- Idaho and New Mexico -- plan to set up their own online marketplaces in time for the next open enrollment beginning Nov. 15. Both those states had moved to run their own exchanges last year but couldn't get them working in time for the 2014 enrollment season so they used the federal exchange instead.

Meanwhile, an Oregon committee is expected to decide Friday to join the federal exchange, rather than attempt to salvage its troubled website in time for the next open enrollment season. Not a single resident has been able to sign up for coverage through the site since it went public Oct. 1.

Counting Oregon, 35 states will rely on the federal website this fall. States have until June 1 to apply for federal permission to operate their own exchanges in time for the 2015 open enrollment season. And they must apply by the end of this year to be eligible for federal funding to build exchanges for 2016 or later.