5 Republican Governors Stand Against Obamacare Rescue! What About Arkansas?
Reuters Reports:
In its ruling expected by June, the high court could bar the federally run insurance marketplace from providing the subsidies in at least 34 states. That could throw the insurance system into turmoil as states respond in starkly different ways.
In response to Reuters’ queries, spokespeople for the Republican governors of Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Carolina and Wisconsin said the states were not willing to create a local exchange to keep subsidies flowing. Republicans argue that Obamacare is unacceptable government intervention that raises costs for consumers and businesses.”
In 2013, Arkansas passed Act 1500 to provide for the creation of a state exchange. So far, it looks like the 2015 Arkansas legislature is going to let the Arkansas Obamacare Exchange be created.
Comments by Debbie Pellie, Contributing Author: Wonder why even we that keep up with issues have not heard anything about this from our governor & Senate & House leaders. Were they just going to let this dangerous State Exchange slide into law while they kept all of us busy with the the Private Option Issue?
A legislative decision is about to take place that would make Arkansas a full participant in Obamacare, or possibly free Arkansans from all the onerous aspects of the law.
When the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) was passed, it gave states the opportunity to fully participate by setting up a State Exchange to implement the law. However, 36 states refused to do so [Some say 34] Obama then had the DHHS to set up Federal Exchanges to take the place of State Exchanges to implement Obamacare in those 36 states. (Ordinarily one would think the State Exchange would be better than a Federal exchange, but not so in this case.)
Even though the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) repeatedly states health care subsidies are available only "through an Exchange established by the State," the IRS is distributing billons of subsidies and enforcing the Individual Mandate and Employer Mandate in those states that never set up a State Exchange.
After some lower courts ruled the government cannot give subsidies to anyone buying coverage in states with only a Federal Exchange, this issue is now before the Supreme Court (King vs Burwell) which is expected to rule by early summer.
Arkansas does not now have a State Exchange in operation, but Act 1500 passed in 2013 orders one to be set up by June, 2015, even though only 14 states have a State Exchange. Some in the legislature are trying to repeal Act 1500.
This Supreme Court ruling and the Arkansas legislature can vastly affect citizens' pocketbooks. If the Court rules that Obamacare can be enforced only in states with a State Exchange then the 36 states without a State Exchange will be free from the Individual Mandate requiring citizens to buy government- approved insurance or pay a penalty tax (up to $2,085) and it frees employers with 50 + employees from the Employer Mandate ($2,000 to $3,000 per employee) that requires companies to meet expensive Obamacare health plan requirements in their employee group benefits.
If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the 36 states without a State Exchange, this would free about 57 million Americans from Obamacare's Individual and Employer Mandates. In Arkansas about 4,004 businesses and 764,000 employees would be free from the Employer mandate and 129,162 free from the Individual Mandate.
It is my understanding that the Private Option and State Exchange are two separate issues altogether. They are related only in that they both have to do with Obamacare.
Legislators, please repeal Act 1500 that sets up a State Exchange in Arkansas. I understand a legislator is going to file such a bill next week.
Tags: Republican Governors, Obamacare, State Exchange, Conduit for Commerce, Debbie Pelly, commentary To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
2 Comments:
Hutchison is an insider. He won't make waves against the Feds.
Hoping as Governor, he place AR ahead of the Feds.
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