WHY WAS THIS FUNDED?

The Affordable Care Act requires the federal government to operate a health insurance marketplace in states that chose not to build their own. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hires private contractors to build and maintain the technology systems that make this marketplace function.

WHAT PUBLIC PROBLEM IS IT TRYING TO SOLVE?

Millions of Americans who do not get health insurance through their job or a government program like Medicaid need a reliable way to compare and purchase health coverage. Without a functioning online exchange, those people would have no central place to find subsidized insurance plans they are legally entitled to access.

WHO BENEFITS?

Americans in states that use the federal marketplace at HealthCare.gov benefit directly, as they depend on this system to enroll in health coverage. Accenture employees working on the contract also benefit through employment, and insurance companies that sell plans on the exchange gain access to a large pool of potential customers.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

A contract of this size awarded to a single large firm carries risks of cost overruns, performance failures, or limited competition that could reduce the government's negotiating power. The contract type is listed as unknown, which makes it harder for the public to assess how costs are controlled and how the contractor is held accountable.

WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REMOVED?

If this contract were cancelled, the online federal health insurance marketplace could face serious technical problems or a complete shutdown, making it difficult or impossible for millions of Americans to shop for and enroll in coverage. The government would need to quickly find another contractor or build its own system, both of which would take significant time and money.

ARGUMENTS FOR

• •The federal marketplace serves millions of Americans who rely on it each year to find affordable health insurance, making reliable contractor support essential.
• •Hiring an experienced technology firm can be more efficient than building and maintaining the system entirely with government employees.
• •Continuous operation and improvement of the exchange helps ensure that eligible Americans can access the health coverage subsidies they are entitled to by law.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

• •Nearly 800 million dollars going to a single private contractor raises questions about whether the government is getting the best value for taxpayer money, especially with the contract type unlisted.
• •Relying heavily on one outside company for a critical public service creates dependency and could limit the government's ability to switch vendors or bring work in-house if problems arise.
• •Critics of the Affordable Care Act may argue that federal spending on the exchange itself reflects a policy choice that should be revisited by Congress rather than extended through long-term contracts.