Millions expected to enroll in insurance marketplaces

Although state health insurance exchanges don’t open until Oct. 1, investors are projecting millions of Americans will participate in the marketplaces, but analysts still have tempered expectations.

According to Reuters, Citigroup recently surveyed 56 investors about their views on the health insurance marketplaces, finding previous projections from the Congressional Budget Office may be inaccurate. Reuters reported investors only predict 4 million workers will enter the exchanges, while the Congressional Budget Office expects 7 million. 

Tim Nelson, a healthcare analyst for Nuveen Asset Management who was not part of the survey, told Reuters investors’ forecasts are lower than previous estimates because of ongoing challenges.

“All the headlines say the implementation is slower, the software doesn’t work, the security isn’t there,” Nelson said. “All this tells the average investor that things will be slower to evolve than we might expect.” 

Yet, it’s widely believed millions of Americans will enroll in the marketplaces, despite experts’ implementation concerns. According to USA Today, a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services project the premiums of the insurance plans offered through the exchanges will be $100 or less a month. Many workers may take advantage of the plans’ affordability.