WASHINGTON - Last week the Obama administration gave the nod for seven more states to create health insurance exchanges in 2014 ?" "as long as they continue to meet certain benchmarks over the course of the next year," writes the Washington Post.

Beginning in 2014, states can begin operating their own health insurance exchanges, which will allow individuals and small businesses that want to buy health insurance to compare health plans, obtain answers to questions, find out if they are eligible for tax credits for private insurance or health programs like the Children??s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and enroll in a health plan that meets their needs, according to HealthCare.gov.

California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont and Utah are conditionally approved to operate a state-based exchange, and Arkansas has been conditionally approved to operate a state partnership exchange. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also providing more guidance to states on marketplaces that will be operated in partnership with the federal government.

Last week??s approvals follow those issued previously granted to Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington to operate state-based exchanges and to Delaware to operate a state partnership exchange. To date, 20 states including the District have been conditionally approved to partially or fully run their marketplaces ?" with the remaining states having until February 15, 2013 to apply for a state partnership exchange, which provides opportunities for states to shape the implementation of exchanges for their residents, according to HHS.

Read more about the health-care law.