States rejecting Federal health insurance mandates?

[WhiskeyGirl]

 

Health insurance mandates face resistance from states

But measures stipulating that residents cannot be forced to obtain coverage face a tough road and could be superseded by federal law.

By Doug Trapp, amednews staff. Posted Feb. 15, 2010.

Lawmakers in at least 30 states have introduced bills or constitutional amendments in the last year largely aimed at blocking any future requirement that individuals have health insurance
-- a key provision in Democrats' stalled national health system reform legislation.

Although the state measures face uncertain futures and could be trumped by federal law, the number of states whose lawmakers are introducing anti-mandate legislation continues to climb, said Richard Cauchi, health program director at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some states have multiple anti-mandate bills in play.

Proposed constitutional amendments: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona*, Florida, Georgia, Indiana**, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan**, Minnesota**, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota**, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Wyoming**

Proposed bills: Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia**

* Proposal was approved for ballot.

** Proposal was rejected.

Read more here – http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/02/15/gvsb0215.htm