In brief: As the nation nears requirement, some states are further along than others in exchange building.
The full story
28 states and the District of Columbia are working on establishing healthcare insurance exchanges per the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which goes into effect in 2014.
A White House report glosses over where states stand in the program.
Some states are much further along than others, as noted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which maps that progress. Of the 51 states and D.C., 22 are "studying options" and have yet to implement anything beyond committees. Six have done nothing at all and two have opted out entirely (Louisiana and Arkansas).
The holdouts aren't just Republican-dominant states, however. In fact, 14 of the 28 cited by the White House are Republican-lead states.
Five states have done little or nothing, ten have established exchanges that are live now or will be within a year, five more are planning to establish one, and two are awaiting legislation (Michigan and New Jersey).
Summing up
The vast majority of states are "studying options" or doing nothing, according to Kaiser.
Photo credits: Kaiser Foundation
