More Than 30 States Seek to Ban Mandatory Health Insurance

Posted in Health Insurance

February 3rd, 2010

It seems that President Barack Obama’s plans for health care have slowly but surely been flushed down the drain, starting with the loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat to Republican Scott Brown, and now the initiatives many states are pushing forward to ban mandatory insurance.

According to recent reports, around 34 states are pushing out proposals and initiatives that would prevent them from being under any type of law that would force health insurance on their residents. If their initiatives go through, much of Obama’s hope for health care will soon become a mere afterthought.

States Don’t Want Mandatory Health Insurance

New information from the non-profit, American Legislative Exchange Council, says that the proposals from many states would prohibit penalties against those who refuse to carry health insurance. Additionally, many proposals would allow for the state-based right for people to pay for their medical bills from their own pocketbooks if that’s what they prefer.

Some question, however, the states’ abilities to actually have their proposed measures honored legally. Since most courts hold that federal laws trump state laws, it may be difficult to get their proposals taken seriously. Nonetheless, most proposals are targeted for the November ballot.

Is it Time to Start Over?

While Obama insists that he will move forward with the health care overhaul despite losing Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat and the possibility that the billmay not pass in the House of Representatives, some think he should back up and rethink his strategy. Unfortunately, the bill affects more than Americans being able to get health insurance in the near future. It also affects political seats that are up for re-election in November.

If this delicate situation isn’t handled properly in the coming weeks, everyone with hopes attached to this bill may be out of luck.