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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 12, 2014 03:46 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Anthony M. DeLuca |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Health Insurance Exchange |
| In the near future, I will be reintroducing House Bill 225 from last session. This legislation establishes a state operated Health Insurance Exchange that is compliant with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since its enactment, the ACA has been at the center of many controversies and disagreements at both the Federal and State levels. Despite the 2012 Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decision upholding most of the provisions of the ACA, several cases surrounding the law are still pending in federal court. Most notable among them is King v. Burwell, a case that SCOTUS will hear in the near future. At issue in King is whether federal insurance subsidies may be provided to individuals who purchase health insurance on the federal exchange. However, regardless of how the Court rules, individuals purchasing health insurance in states that have created their own “state” insurance exchange will continue to receive federal insurance subsidies. My legislation will establish a state run Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange. Specifically, it creates an authority which will have responsibility to develop the actual exchange, and will work with the Insurance Department to do so. The authority will not regulate the insurance industry, but will facilitate access to the information necessary for consumers to select coverage that best suits their needs. No matter how you feel about the ACA, I believe it is important that Pennsylvania’s citizens are able to receive the same benefits as individuals who live in other states and have purchased insurance through a “state” exchange. Last year, more than 300,000 working and middle class Pennsylvanians were able to receive financial assistance to purchase health insurance through the Federal Health Insurance Exchange. If we do not act and create our own state exchange, 300,000 of our constituents could lose their federal subsidies and no longer be able to afford health insurance. Please join me as a co-sponsor of this legislation. Thank you. |
Introduced as HB330