After some high-profile state defections, the ranks of states hosting their own Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance marketplaces will grow with the addition of Arkansas, Delaware and Pennsylvania, whose applications were recently approved by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Delaware and Pennsylvania have been okayed to commence online operations for both the individual and small group markets beginning in 2016. Arkansas will begin servicing small groups in 2016 and individuals in 2017.
The state actions precede a ruling by the Supreme Court in King v. Burwell, expected before the end of this month, that could possibly end subsidies for enrollees in the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov, while leaving subsidies intact for state marketplaces.
See also: States that have left the marketplace or may soon
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