For background on what a co-op is, and some examples of successful ones that predate the Affordable Care Act, see this 2009 “tool kit” from the Alliance for Health Reform. It was written before the final legislation was passed in the Senate, but is still a useful overview.
Here’ s an HHS fact sheet – it was written before the funds were cut off, but it explains the federal program that applies to those that are going ahead.
While much of the focus has been on rural areas – the Freelancers Union is expanding them through New York, New Jersey and Oregon.
The Urban Institute also did a paper analyzing some of the potential barriers to co-ops’ success.
HHS fact sheet (posted before the funds were slashed, but it explains the federal program that applies to those that are going ahead).
An Urban Institute analysis of the barriers to co-ops success.
Health Affairs and RWJF have published a brief that explains in more detail about how they are set up, and the challenges they face. The brief gives a description of several of the co-ops – here are the top three on the list to give a taste of the variety. (There are more in the brief and the National Alliance of State Health Cooperatives has a full list (PDF).