"If you're an employer that is finding self-management of your plans increasingly challenging

and your cost base is high and your rate of trend is high, a private exchange model may provide some much-needed relief. But, bottom-line, it's all about which model will help you achieve your goals and maximize program results. A move to a private exchange doesn't exempt you from the excise tax."

— Randy Abbott, senior strategy consultant and North American leader at Towers Watson, told AIS's Inside Health Insurance Exchanges.