Analysis highlights high customer churn on Affordable Care Act exchanges

Health plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplace experience considerable turnover, with only a third of exchange enrollees picking the same plan for 2016 as they did for 2015, according to a new analysis from advisory firm Avalere. Because of consumers' tendency to switch plans, as well as enter and exit the marketplaces, the majority of individuals covered through the ACA exchanges also are enrolled in a plan for one year or less. Part of the reason, the analysis says, can be traced to the fact that most exchange enrollees have low incomes, and such households often experience income volatility throughout the year. But that amount of customer churn can make it challenging for insurers trying to manage consumers' care. Analysis