Politics

GOP Senators Introduce Bill To Stop Obamacare Fines For Individuals With Minimal Options

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Juliegrace Brufke Capitol Hill Reporter
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A group of GOP senators introduced legislation Wednesday to prevent individuals from being penalized for not having insurance under Obamacare in counties where one or zero insurers offer plans.

Under the Affordable Care Act, Americans are fined $695 per person or 2.5 percent of a household’s income, whichever is higher, if they do not purchase health insurance as of 2016.

In the wake of Arizona becoming the first state to have a county where every insurer dropped out of its Obamacare exchange, Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and and John Barrasso of Wyoming crafted the Protection from Obamacare Monopolies Act, which would stop Americans with limited options from having to pay steep fees.

Due to hefty losses under President Barack Obama’s landmark health-care legislation, a number of major health insurance providers have announced their plans to drop out of the Obamacare marketplaces in droves with several more expected to follow suite.

The individual and employer mandate has been one of Republicans biggest issues with the ACA since it was introduced, with several GOP lawmakers noting they predicted it would lead to higher out-of-pocket costs and less options for Americans.

Sasse said the bill “spares moms and dads from Obamacare’s raw deal,” and called for it to be repealed and replaced.

Flake agreed, noting 13 of the 15 counties in Arizona are now void of competition.

“Obamacare is an unmitigated disaster in Arizona,” he said in a statement. “The administration continues to defend this failed law, we will not wait around for them to fix its mess, which is why we have introduced this legislation to help protect those in Arizona and across the country from unjustifiable financial penalties when they are left without healthcare options.”
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