Health Insurance Exchanges Accessible To Self-Employed.

In the New York Times (5/4, Andrews) "Prescriptions" blog, Michelle Jennifer Tolbert, associate director of the Kaiser Family Foundation, says, "Currently, people without access to health insurance through their jobs often have no other option than to try to buy coverage on the individual market. ... Plans in the exchanges that will open in 2014 will be required to offer a comprehensive package that covers essential health benefits and provides subsidized premiums for people with incomes up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level." Tolbert notes that even though "the exchanges are targeted at people who are self-employed or work for small companies, they will be open to almost anyone (though not everyone can receive subsidized coverage)."