Industry Updates

The federal government shelled out billions of dollars to get health insurance marketplaces going in the 14 states that opted to run their own.

Covered California will "double-down" on its strategy to reach out to uninsured Latinos during a new enrollment period for health care under the state-run insurance exchange, the group's top executive said Monday.

Covered California officials this week are on a bus tour across the state -- stumping Thursday in La Habra and making multiple stops Friday in Los Angeles -- in preparation for Saturday's launch of the exchange's second open enrollment period.

Smooth sailing. The administration promises and outside experts expect that this year's open enrollment period on the health insurance marketplaces will be markedly less glitchy and balky than last.

Small-business enrollment on new insurance marketplaces set up under the president's health-care law has fallen well short of the administration's expectations, according to government report released Thursday.

In a twist, an influx of lower-priced health plans on HealthCare.gov could lead many Americans to pay more for coverage next year thanks to smaller insurance tax credits.

An information gap could keep the Affordable Care Act from helping those who really need the law's help.

Some large employers will face penalties if they don't offer workers health insurance in 2015.

The Obama administration said Sunday that consumers could shop for health insurance and compare their options on HealthCare.gov starting Monday, even before the open enrollment period formally begins five days later.

Covered California, the Obamacare exchange that led the nation during its first year with about 1.2 million enrollees, predicts the tally will jump to 1.7 million in year two - a 500,000 increase, more than many states netted in total last time around.