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As most people know, the national healthcare reform law requires health insurers to cover young adult dependents of policyholders.
While the federal law is effective until age 26, recent Ohio health insurance legislation goes a step further. In that state, all regulated health plans are required to extend that coverage until he or she turns 28!
Large corporations that self-insure (instead of buying coverage) are exempt, although activists are asking them to comply regardless.
 Image: Snassek under CC 3.0 |
In Ohio, a group of “tea party” activists are looking to enact a state constitutional amendment that would exempt them from one of the major elements of healthcare reform: the individual mandate.
Ohio Liberty and American Patriots Against Government Excess want to put the Health Care Freedom Amendment on this November’s ballot, and are currently gathering petitions. If it passes, it would prevent any state or federal agency from mandating a person or employer to purchase Ohio health insurance–or pay a penalty or fine for failing to do so.
Laws in place before March 19th (prior to President Obama signing the health care bill) will not be affected.
 (Image: springhill2008 under CC 3.0) |
President Obama is making a stop in the suburb of Strongsville, Ohio to shore up support for healthcare reform legislation. With Congress’ votes in the balance, he and his Organizing for America team are setting up rallies. Strongsville is the home of a self-employed cancer patient unable to afford her increased individual health insurance premium of $8,500 annually; the news coverage is most likely intended to spur sympathy and support for the legislation, but it is unclear if it will actually change any minds.
The White House considers this week make-or-break for the issue. He is in a bind: Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives fear that the bill will not have enough votes to pass via reconciliation, despite having had a majority for the initial vote. Special deals with some representatives on the fence could gain their votes, but is very unpopular with the public–many of whom are already worried about the impact the changes could have on their health insurance plans.
Initially, Obama wanted all of those deals gone. Now, probably due to the exodus of several pro-life Democrats who refuse to vote for a Senate bill they believe is not restrictive enough of abortion funding (an issue which cannot be resolved through budget reconciliation), doing so is not politically possible. He still wants deals that affect only one state, such as Nebraska’s infamous “Cornhusker kickback”, eliminated. Deals that impact multiple states, however, can now stay–much to the relief of powerful Senators Max Baucus and Chris Dodd.
