Steenbergen Says Exchange Specifics Unknown

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce President and C-E-O Dale Steenbergen says it's not clear exactly how the insurance exchanges mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act will work in small states such as Wyoming.

Steenbergen says the exchanges, which are designed to offer a marketplace for people to buy health insurance, won't work the same way in small states as in more populated states because the potential market for the insurance companies doesn't make it cost-effective for the companies.The deadline for states to set up their own exchanges is Friday, and Wyoming won't meet that deadline. That means Wyoming will have to join an exchange formed by the federal government.

Governor Matt Mead said last week that two letters he has written to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius with questions about the exchanges, as well as other facets of the Affordable Care Act, had not received any answer.