Private health exchanges should work just like the health care exchanges that will be functioning at the state and federal level: individuals may enroll in the exchange to have access to a wide array of coverage and policy options whose premiums are mitigated by the size of the exchange. Walgreens was the largest, but not the first employer to plan to utilize Aon Hewitt?s private health exchange. The company will officially move its 160,000 employees to Aon Hewitt?s exchange starting on January 1, 2014. Walgreens states that it will not contribute less to its employees? health care coverage, although, some employees may end up paying more depending on how much coverage they choose to purchase.
See "Walgreens shifts workers to private health exchanges", Tami Luhby, CNN, September 17, 2013