Monterey, CA Will Insurance Companies Participate In Online Insurance Exchanges?

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Online health care exchanges are supposed to be an easy and efficient way for many low-income residents to get low-cost access to health care, particularly those who work part time and aren't covered by insurance.  Unfortunately, the exchanges which are being rolled out to comply with President Barack Obama's health care reform law (the Affordable Care Act), may not include the services of some mainstream insurance companies.  This could raise the price as well as make the number of in-network doctors few and far between.  This came to light when the CEO of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), Stephen Hensley, told analysts that the participation of UHG in online exchanges would depend on whether it's financially viable for the company.  "We will only participate in exchanges that we assess to be fair, commercially sustainable and provide a reasonable return on the capital they will require.  I had assumed that all major health insurance companies would participate in the exchanges, but apparently I was wrong.  The President may have to strengthen the law and provide requirements to financial incentives to make sure all major insurance companies are on board.  It would be a shame to have all of this hard work put into the exchanges only to find that many insurance companies weren't participating.  Many companies, including one of our Platinum Sponsors Alliance Home Health, are hoping the Affordable Care Act will indeed make access to health care available to more low income people.  But more might have to happen in the Federal government in order to make this a reality.