A Profile of Health Insurance Exchange Enrollees

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act calls for the creation of Health Insurance Exchanges in all states by January 1, 2014. The exchanges are a critical element of the health reform law, aimed at helping individuals and families shop for and purchase health insurance on their own with additional assistance for lower-income individuals and families. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that approximately 24 million people will purchase coverage through the state health exchanges by 2019.

This March 2011 report describes those 24 million Americans expected to purchase private health insurance through the new Health Insurance Exchanges. Among the key findings from the report is that those purchasing coverage are likely to be relatively older, less educated, and more racially diverse and report to have poorer health, but have fewer diagnosed conditions than those who currently have private insurance.

Report (.pdf)