Six Republican senators want to exempt people from the requirement to have health insurance if the Obamacare marketplace in their area offers only one or no insurance options.
Two of the sponsors are Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake, whose state has one county, Pinal, where no insurers plan to sell plans next year in the marketplace set up under the Affordable Care Act.
Under the measure they announced Wednesday, all of those living in places with fewer than two Obamacare insurers would be excused from the mandate to have coverage, including those with employer-sponsored coverage who don’t need to buy in the marketplace.
While Pinal is the only county in the U.S. thought to be without Obamacare offerings next year, recent analyses have found that about one-third of insurance rating areas may have just one marketplace plan available. While consumers can purchase plans not in the marketplace, they can’t collect federal subsidies.
“Nearly all of Arizona’s counties are now left with either one or no options when it comes to health insurance under Obamacare,” McCain said. “This legislation would ensure that Arizonans are not forced to pay a penalty due to the failure of a healthcare system that was fatally flawed from conception.”
The legislation is also sponsored by Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso.
Enrollment in the marketplaces starts Nov. 1. The Obama administration hasn’t said how it will handle counties such as Pinal where no plans are available.
