SHOP exchange facing challenges, low enrollment

A CT Mirror article examines the reasons behind very low enrollment in CT’s insurance exchange for small businesses (SHOP). This shouldn’t come as news – low enrollment was predicted by analysts hired by the exchange. The reason was also predicted – it’s expensive. The article explores other problems including poor marketing, no online tool linking to ACA small business subsidies, and a website design that doesn’t make comparing plans easy. Next year AccessHealthCT plans to switch from the current vendor to run the SHOP exchange in-house and to revise plan offerings.