HHS Will Operate ‘Open Market' Model for Federal Insurance Exchanges in 2014 (Bloomberg)

During the first year of federal health insurance exchanges, the Department of Health and Human Services announced in its guidance that health insurance brokers, agents and Web-based brokers will be used to enroll customers. Certification of state health plans will include ensuring insurance companies are licensed.  Timothy Jost, a law professor with Washington and Lee University, said allowing an open market model the first year will “maximize participation, but hopefully the carriers will be on good behavior because there’s the threat they might go to an active purchaser model in subsequent years.” States that want to operate their own exchanges in 2014 must submit blueprints by Nov. 16 for HHS approval.