Making the Affordable Care Act Work: High-Risk Pools and Health Insurance Marketplaces

As the Affordable Care Act is likely to persist, we should shift our attention toward actually making it work. However, this may be even more challenging than overcoming the initial political opposition. One of the most daunting problems is to make fifty-one insurance exchanges (marketplaces)(1) across the country into viable, self-sufficient, and effective entities. Consumer demographics pose a significant challenge to these marketplaces, one that may lead to their demise. Ultimately, it may be prudent to continue high-risk pools as a supplement to marketplaces in order to offer lower premiums in the marketplaces and provide an opportunity for learning. This strategy could be made acceptable to both Republicans and Democrats.