new york unitedhealth group inc decision exit obamacare health insurance exchange next year mean rival need raise price prop unprofitable business healthcare analysts policy experts say tuesday large u.s. health insurer move would likely reduce consumer choices particularly state unitedhealth one handful players offer insurance president barack obama healthcare law say large pullbacks providers like anthem inc aetna inc unlikely await approval administration propose merger deal small rival analysts say spokespeople aetna anthem decline comment tuesday unitedhealth one big sellers obamacare plan offer 34 state 2016. company warn november lose much money business due low enrollment high service cost tuesday say would exit handful market many estimate 650,000 unitedhealth plan members end 2016 would need find another insurer see significant rate increase 2017 health plan try figure premium make money say caroline pearson senior vice president research firm avalere health government provide income-based tax credit exchange users would help soften blow high premiums say term viability exchange think go affect long term say yevgeniy feyman deputy director health policy manhattan institute policy research even insurers decide leave say could envision exchange unprofitable cease work recent kaiser family foundation study find unitedhealth departure would leave one insurer 29 percent 1,855 counties offer health plan report find unite participate exchange 2016 national weight average benchmark silver plan would percent high 2016. republican lawmakers repeatedly seek repeal affordable care act also know obamacare provide tax credit help uninsured individuals buy medical coverage say create unwarranted government intervention personal healthcare warn insurers would leave cover sick old individuals u.s. health insurers include aetna anthem also lose money exchange say would exit obama administration estimate 12 million people sign private insurance exchange 2016. insurers midst submit propose premium rat 2017 ahead mid-may deadlines set state exchange insurance regulators aetna chief executive officer mark bertolini question whether obamacare business sustainable say work government improve anthem ceo joseph swedish say company commit exchange would still surprise major insurers follow unite lead unite sense category kaiser family foundation senior vice president larry levitt say health plan sell individual members represent small part unitedhealth revenue compare large-scale contract employers aetna anthem substantial business serve individuals aetna anthem undergo u.s. department justice review would historic consolidation health insurance industry aetna propose buy rival humana inc anthem agree buy cigna corp. unitedhealth 's obamacare exit add price pressure rival