In “ObamaCare: 21 States Reject Exchanges On Cost, Rules,” David Hogberg at Investors Business Daily writes:

The exchanges are where consumers without employer-based coverage will shop for insurance under ObamaCare and receive a tax credit toward its purchase if they are eligible. But 21 states have expressly declined to set up their own exchanges, with nine others still undecided ahead of the Dec. 14 deadline. …

Supporters of state exchanges say they’ll allow state leaders to tailor plan benefits and other key provisions to best serve their residents. But governors of the opt-out states say that in reality, the federal government has left states little power to do that. …

One snag is that the ObamaCare legislation appears to only grant taxpayer subsidies to state-run exchanges. Further, without exchange subsidies, businesses in those states would not face the employer mandate to provide coverage or pay a fine.

Obama’s Internal Revenue Service has ruled that federal exchanges would still get subsidies, despite the law’s wording. But the ruling could be vulnerable to court challenges.

Read more: ObamaCare: 21 States Reject Insurance Exchanges Over Cost, Rules – Investors.com.