There's only around three months to go before Obamacare's individual insurance exchange open to the public, but reform has a lot of ground to make up in order to ensure a successful rollout. A number of necessary activities are behind schedule for the initiative, but worse, Obamacare is facing a dearth of the type of insurance consumers it needs most -- young, healthy individuals who can help offset the program's high costs of at-risk customers, such as those with pre-existing conditions.
Questions about the likely rising costs of insurance under reform have already spurned insurers to exercise caution, first displayed when UnitedHealth Group (UNH 1.35%), Cigna (CI), and Aetna (AET) decided not to participate in California's individual exchanges next year in order to avoid a murky and potentially costly future.
With time running short, the administration reportedly is turning to a new source to get the word out to its target audience: pro sports. The Department of Health and Human Services has looked into teaming up with sports leagues such as the National Football League to promote health care reform; but will this move attract enough young people to purchase insurance, or are insurance companies and investors going to have to live with higher costs and the resulting impact on their financials? Motley Fool contributor Dan Carroll gives you the details on Obamacare's Hail Mary pass below.
