States Trying to Stop Health Insurance Reform?

Welcome to this installment of the Weekly Health Insurance News Roundup. In this installment, the Associated Press — in an article entitled “State lawmakers try to halt health care changes” — we look at this article and what it entails. Apparently in several states, lawmakers are moving to pass state bills and amendments to block any kind of reform bill from affecting their state, a move many say wouldn’t work with the passage of a federal bill, but they’re trying anyway.

What are their major gripes? Apparently they’re concerned that people will lose their freedom of choice under any kind of health care reform that includes mandatory insurance, whether it includes a public option or not. They’re citing the reasons for these bills as protecting the rights of the customers. They’re also unsure what the roles for states would be under a new health care reform package, and are trying to make sure their states retain prominence in a new federal system.

It’s an interesting conundrum though, and something lawmakers are still struggling with. How do you grant health insurance to everyone while keeping it affordable, paying for it, and making everyone happy, for example? It’s a touchy subject with very polarized sides, and we plan to keep apprised of this issue as long as it remains an issue. Until next week, have a happy and healthy week ahead.