Almost half of all U.S. states only have one or two healthcare providers to choose. Most of the insurance plans are almost are identical and have slight differences to render them as new and different. Obama and the White House say that by limiting Part D sponsors to providing 2 plans per region, it would promote needed clarity. The White House argues that, in marketing the same plan under different brands, insurers were gaining market share by tricking customers into imputing distinctions between healthcare that didn't exist.  37 states that use healthcare.gov and Covered California show that United Healthcare, the largest national insurer offers  1,661 different plans in the 185 rating areas. Aetna has 982 in 137 rating areas, and Wellpoint offers 1,285 different plans in 109 rating areas. Based on these figures, and inconsistency between the states, one could understand why there is still so much uncertainty, in the benefits and restrictions.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/scottgottlieb/2014/12/16/in-obamacare-you-wont-get-a-wide-choice-of-health-plans-either/