Individual Mandate Has Long Been One Of Most Controversial Parts Of Health Law, But Has It Become Superfluous?
Health law sign ups for 2019 dipped only slightly even though Congress zeroed out the penalty for not having insurance. The numbers suggest that people are participating in the ACA exchanges because they value the coverage not because they're worried about paying fines, experts say. Meanwhile, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has asked a judge to block exemptions to the health law's contraception mandate.
The Associated Press:
Health Law's Fines Are Not The Big Stick Everybody Thought
There was one thing that supporters and detractors of former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul agreed on for years: unpopular fines on Americans forgoing coverage were essential for the plan to work because they nudged healthy people to get insured, helping check premiums. Now it turns out that might not be so. (12/20)
The Hill:
California Asks Federal Judge To Block Trump Contraception Rule
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D) asked a federal judge on Thursday to block Trump administration rules that would allow more exemptions to ObamaCare's contraception mandate. The final rules, slated to take effect Jan. 14, would allow most businesses to opt out of covering contraception for their employees if they have moral or religious objections. (Hellmann, 12/20)