Last month was a milestone for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as people began using the coverage they purchased through the state-based and federally run healthcare exchanges.
However, open enrollment is still underway, and it remains unclear how the new marketplaces will ultimately play out for patients, care providers and health insurers.
Here are five stories posted during the past week about how the rollout of the PPACA exchanges is going so far.
1. Study: PPACA, Employer-Based Health Insurance Premiums Similar
This year, premiums for health plans offered through the PPACA's health insurance exchanges are comparable to, and in some cases lower than, premiums for employer-sponsored policies offering similar coverage, according to a report from global consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
2. 10 Most-Involved States in PPACA Implementation
According to the Commonwealth Fund, these 10 states have done the most to implement the reform law. They have set up their own exchanges, expanded Medicaid and enacted all or nearly all of the insurance market reforms.
3. WellPoint: PPACA Partly to Blame for Drop in Profits
Health insurer WellPoint has partly attributed a 68 percent drop in net income in the fourth quarter of 2013 to consumers who used more services than expected out of fear that they would lose their plans under the reform law.
4. Poll: Most Uninsured Who Plan to Get Coverage Plan on Using Exchanges
Among uninsured Americans who plan to get health insurance, 56 percent intend to do so through a government health insurance exchange, according to a Gallup poll.
5. White House Dismisses Concerns About Lack of Young, Healthy PPACA Enrollees
The marketplaces are on track to enroll an adequate amount of young, healthy people, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said during a press briefing.
More Articles on PPACA Exchanges:
State Officials Say Their Exchanges Can Be More Effective Than Federal Marketplace
Westchester Medical Center Won't Accept Patients With Exchange Coverage
The Importance of Outreach: How Hospitals Can Help the Uninsured Get Coverage