Insurers, exchanges gird for next open enrollment

Officials say they are expecting glitches, but most do not expect the crippling technical problems that afflicted last year's open enrollment period.

The New York Times: Bracing For New Challenges In Year 2 Of Health Care Law
The first year of enrollment under the federal health care law was marred by the troubled start of HealthCare.gov, rampant confusion among consumers and a steep learning curve for insurers and government officials alike. But insurance executives and managers of the online marketplaces are already girding for the coming open enrollment period, saying they fear it could be even more difficult than the last. ... No one expects to face last year's technological hurdles .... But the upheaval in insurance markets, with new carriers entering and the price of plans changing significantly, may make the coming year no easier than the last (Abelson, 9/2).

The Wall Street Journal: With Health-Law Marketplaces Reopening, Insurers Brace For Round Two
This fall, health insurers are fastening their seat belts - and hoping the ride will be a bit less bumpy than last year's. On Nov. 15, the health-law marketplaces will reopen for business, selling coverage to millions of Americans. Last October's debut of the online exchanges was widely seen as disastrous, with technical malfunctions early on preventing many consumers from buying plans or freezing them in confusing limbo ... So far, industry officials say, they are expecting hiccups, but likely not a crippling meltdown (Wilde Mathews, 9/2).