From the August 2009 issue of Ceridian Connection.

Modeled after the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' "Connector," the exchange favored by most members of Congress would replace today's individual insurance market with a new entity that would bring insurance carriers, uninsured individuals and small businesses together in a single health insurance cooperative.

Millions of the uninsured work full time -- but for an employer that does not offer health insurance. Many others have been denied coverage because of preexisting conditions or charged high premiums because of their health status.

At the exchange, the uninsured would be able to choose among several health benefit packages mandated to be offered by competing private insurance companies at group plan premiums. The federal or state governments would regulate the practices of participating insurance providers, who want to gain access to 47 million new customers, to make sure the providers offered the most competitive rates and plan options within the exchange.

Four consensus issues	SPACE	Four roadblocks to reform
Insurance market reform	SPACE	Financing healthcare reform
Creation of a health insurance exchange	SPACE	Saving for out-of-pocket health costs: FSAs in the spotlight
Subsidies for lower income households	SPACE	Public plan option in the health insurance exchange
Support for wellness and prevention	SPACE	Employer mandate