Whenever the final book on the Patient Protection and AffordableCare Act is written, the year 2016 may not garner the most lengthyof chapters in terms of implementation. Most of Obamacare's policyand rules changes have been enacted (or in some rare cases,tweaked.) Heck, it might not garner much more than a footnote. Butbenefits professionals across the nation know better—2016 is ashaping up to be a pivotal year in the PPACA story.

Start with the numbers. Now that the nation is a few years intoPPACA, there's no consensus on whether the law is making healthinsurance more affordable or insuring more people. Reports onhealth insurance rates have been widely reported, but those figuresare based on parts of the law that are already in effect andcarriers that have submitted rates to state insurance commissionersfor 2016.

In summary: Some premiums are up. Some are way up. Some aredown. And some are staying the same. Every so often, the Departmentof Health and Human Services announces another huge number ofpeople who've signed up for health insurance under Obamacare. Just as fast, opponentsbegin picking apart the statistic.