Ohio House bill would block ACA insurance penalties

Two Republican members of the Ohio House introduced a bill this week aimed at blocking the insurance penalty provisions of the Affordable Care Act from being levied in Ohio (source: “Bill attempts to thwart Obama care law,” Youngstown Vindicator, March 7, 2013).

Rep. Andy Thompson, from Marietta, and Rep. Ron Young, from Lake County, have co-sponsored House Bill 91, titled the “Health Care Freedom Act,” which seeks to block penalties against employers under the ACA.

Under federal law, insurers can receive tax credits and other incentives to provide qualified health plans to consumers at reduced rates. But the subsidies could trigger penalties against companies that are not providing required health-care coverage to their employees. HB 91 would prohibit insurers from accepting federal subsidies to provide lower-premium plans.