The Obama administration contends most of the 133 million Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance through large employers will be able to keep the coverage they have today. But individuals and those within small group plans will likely transition to competitive market exchanges in 2014.

Plans that existed on March 23, 2010 are considered "grandfathered" plans and are exempt from some new requirements. These plans can continue to "innovate and contain costs by allowing insurers and employers to make routine changes without losing grandfather status."

However, under new regulation, The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury on Monday warned health plans that choose to significantly cut benefits or increase out-of-pocket spending for consumers will lose their "grandfather" status.