Medical-insurance markets crafted by four U.S. Republicangovernors won conditional approval by the Obama administration asthe federal government nudges states toward full implementation ofthe landmark health-care overhaul.

Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada and Utah are set to meet AffordableCare Act rules for marketplaces where residents can buy insurance,the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said in a statementtoday. The agency also approved plans in Democratic-led California,Hawaii and Vermont, bringing to 18 the number of states scheduledto run exchanges on Jan. 1, 2014.

“In all of these states there's more work to be done to be readyfor open enrollment in October, but we believe they've madesignificant progress,” said Gary Cohen, director of thedepartment's Center for Consumer Information and InsuranceOversight, on a conference call with reporters.