USA
Today Asks Joel Ario About Measuring Exchange Success
"Exchanges' Success or Failure Will Take Months to Appear"
USA Today
October 1, 2013 - USA Today spoke to Manatt's Joel Ario, a managing director with Manatt Health Solutions, on the factors that will determine the success or failure of the newly launched health insurance exchanges.
USA Today reports that the opening of the nation's new health marketplaces is only the beginning of a long path to determine their impact on the healthcare system.
"It's going to be a gradual process," said Ario. The launch is "an important date, but it's just one day in a six-month process."
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that at least 7 million new insurance customers need to buy insurance for the exchanges to be considered successful.
If enrollment falls below that, "it's probably not a good sign," Ario said.
The people who need coverage - who are waiting for it because of pre-existing conditions or because they could not get insurance in the past - will sign up right away. Success will come in the numbers who sign up a little later who aren't in as much of a rush, Ario said.
"The online functionality is a key thing to watch, but it doesn't need to totally be there," Ario said. "Things won't be as functional in year one as they are in year two."
Read the article here.