Consider this: The new, public insurance exchanges will include a small minority of people, mostly those who are self-employed or work for very small companies. Most companies will still buy health care benefits the same ways they do now.

Or this: The new insurance exchanges will usher in major changes in how Americans select and purchase health insurance, giving benefits industry professionals more than ample reason to figure out ways to adapt to the evolving system.

It all depends on whom you ask. As a group, benefits professionals aren't quite sure what to make of the new health insurance changes, which became a virtual certainty with the re-election of President Barack Obama and are scheduled to begin signing up new policyholders in October 2013, with policies in force as of January 2014.