Barrasso-Graham-Ayotte Introduce Bill to Let States "Opt-Out" of Obamacare

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) introduced The State Health Care Choice Act. The bill allows states to "Opt-Out" of the major provisions included in the President's health care law--such as the individual mandate, employer mandate and benefit mandates.

"Under the President's health care law, Americans are losing their coverage, their doctors and are watching their health care costs skyrocket. It's become clear that the President's one-size-fits-all approach to health care doesn't work for every state--especially rural ones like Wyoming," said Barrasso. "The Obama Administration has already issued hundreds of waivers to businesses and unions and delayed the employer mandate by a year. States should have the same opportunity to give relief to their citizens. By allowing states to opt-out of Obamacare's crushing mandates, our bill gives them the flexibility to decide how best to help the people in their state get the care they need, want and can afford."

"Obamacare is a disaster and unfortunately, the worst is yet to come," said Graham. "Our opt-out legislation takes the fight out of Washington and puts it back in the states. I would hope every Member of Congress, regardless of party, would give the people of their home state a chance to be heard. I'm confident a large number of states would opt-out of the most onerous provisions of Obamacare if given the chance."

"The president's one-size-fits-all health care law has failed to lower health care costs, and Granite Staters are paying the price -- with canceled plans and more expensive premiums. States should have the flexibility to determine how to best reform their health insurance markets in order to reduce costs and increase consumer choice, and this legislation gives them the ability to opt-out of the law's onerous regulations and requirements," said Ayotte.

Under The State Health Care Choice Act, states could choose to "Opt-Out" of:

* Individual mandate -- the requirement to buy government-approved health insurance coupled with a financial penalty for not doing so.

* Employer mandate -- the requirement for businesses to provide government-approved health insurance coupled with financial penalties for not doing so.

* Benefit mandates -- defines what qualifies as a health plan as well as new federal requirements for regulating health insurance.

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