Company gives officials, lawmakers a preview of how health 'exchanges' work

Officials and lawmakers got a preview of what a health reform plan may look like by examining how health exchanges will operate if implemented. The Hill reports: "White House officials and members of Congress have been meeting with a Silicon Valley-based firm to map out how the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's healthcare reform will look." The company, eHealth, Inc., is seeking to provide the health insurance clearinghouse that is called for in the Democratic health reform plans. The company has already set up exchanges in Utah and Massachusetts.

"Policymakers and lawmakers are learning from these meetings that Internet-facilitated insurance applications will make it a lot easier to buy policies but they likely will not reduce costs as significantly as some Democrats promise. And one expert at the company who has consulted with members of Congress says that health exchanges would proliferate even if Congress didn't pass a $1 trillion overhaul," the Hill reported.

Meanwhile,  Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a Finance Committee member, "is battling with his Democratic colleagues to make health insurance exchanges available to all Americans. The pending proposal would limit them to the minority of Americans who do not receive insurance through an employer" (Bolton, 9/27).