As long as states’ alternatives to the insurance mandate meet the healthcare law’s coverage and affordability targets, President Obama has endorsed a waiver that would allow states to opt out of the healthcare law three years earlier than the law currently allows. However, reform supporters say the individual mandate is the heart of healthcare reform and that without an individual mandate, health individuals would wait until they needed healthcare to purchase coverage, according to the news report.
“There are alternatives I can think of where you can cover a lot of people, but it would not cover nearly as many people and you spend as much money,” said healthcare economist Jonathan Gruber.
It is unlikely, however, that the proposed waiver will be signed into law. A Republican-majority House doesn’t believe the proposed waivers would provide states the flexibility to develop their alternative reforms, according to the news report.
Read the news report about alternatives to the healthcare mandate.
Read other coverage about healthcare reform:
– More Than 1,000 Waivers Issued to Insurers on Reform Law
– GOP Leaders Make Plans to Defund Reform, Cut Medicare, Medicaid
– Judge Allows Reform Law to Stand During Appeal
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