Choice of health plans to vary sharply from state to state

State exchanges to purchase health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will look different depending on where you live in the country. After all, some states are setting up the exchanges themselves and some refuse; leaving the federal government to do the job. The exchanges, designed to provide consumers with choice — and, therefore, force insurers to compete for customers by lowering prices — may not have as many players as originally expected in some corners of the country.