Computer issues may hamper online insurance markets

New online insurance markets set to begin selling health coverage to consumers next October may be hampered by delays in launching a key computer program. State regulators learned late last week that an electronic system most insurers will use to submit their policies for state and federal approvals won't be ready for testing next month, as originally planned. The lag is being blamed on the wait for several regulations from the Obama administration, which are needed to update the software. Some believe the delay will squeeze insurance regulators and insurers, who still have much work to complete before next fall when enrollment is slated to start in the exchanges.