Amodei, Heck, Hardy bill would provide relief from individual mandate

Nevada lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday that would eliminate the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate penalty in counties where fewer than two insurance providers participate in health care exchanges.

U.S. Reps. Mark Amodei (R-NV), Cresent Hardy (R-NV) and Joe Heck (R-NV) introduced the Protection from Insurance Exchange Monopolies Act in response to fewer coverage options on health care exchanges and increasing costs.

“In Nevada, Obamacare will soon be leaving residents in 10 counties with only one choice — choose what Washington says is right for them — or pay the penalty,” Amodei said. “By allowing people who reside in areas with less than two provider options to be exempt from the individual mandate, our bill provides much needed relief to those who have been left with no alternative. Congress must continue to look for real solutions that give Americans increased access to the care they deserve, and this is an example of Congress taking action.” 

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation approximately 2.3 million enrollees, or 19 percent of all enrollees, could see health care exchanges with just one insurance carrier by 2017.

“The Affordable Care Act promised Nevadans more health care choices and lower costs but, as expected, we now know those promises were empty” Heck said. “Nevadans in 10 counties will be living under an Obamacare insurance monopoly in 2017 and it is unfair to inflict a penalty tax on residents in counties with only one carrier option. This is yet another example of the failures of the ACA and highlights the urgent need to replace the broken parts of the law with health care reforms that actually expand access to quality, affordable care.”

Replacing the ACA with a fairer and more patient-centered approach would be a better way to solve the issue of health care access in rural areas, Hardy said.

“But as long as Obamacare is the law, Nevadans shouldn’t be forced to pay a tax on a monopoly caused by a government mandate that forced out other competition,” Hardy said. “All Nevadans, and particularly those in our rural communities, deserve access to more health care choices and lower health care costs.”

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