With Deadline Approaching, Only 15 States Plan to Set Up Healthcare Exchanges

States have until tomorrow to notify the federal government of whether they plan to operate health insurance exchanges, a key provision of President Obama's healthcare reform law. So far, only 15 states are planning to do so, but that number is expected to rise to 18. This means that the government will be left to set up exchanges in at least 30 states.

The exchanges would allow individuals to purchase private coverage from online exchanges at federally subsidized rates. The administration in planning on beginning to enroll families via the exchanges beginning October 1, 2013. The insurance coverage would begin on January 1 of 2014.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the administration estimates that approximately 26 million people will eventually purchase coverage through the exchanges.

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