IL Health Exchanges Will Have Few Participating Insurers

Policy uncertainty has everybody nervous

Illinois is moving forward with its health care marketplace, due to open in June, no matter who else is on board.

A handful of reports last week showed lackluster interest in the marketplace, which is where people who do not have insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid will buy insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

Six insurance companies have signed on to provide more than 150 different insurance plans in the Illinois marketplace. The Illinois Department of Insurance, which will run the marketplace, had hoped for twice those numbers.

State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, sits on the Illinois House Insurance Committee. He said the low number of insurers is more about uncertainty than opposition.

"I think the major insurance companies are saying that the rules and regulations from the federal government are sufficiently unsettled," Harris said. "They are worried about possible changes."