Health Exchanges = Government Insurance
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, January 4, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Good morning, Jim. Two sessions ago H.B. 476 was introduced to comply with Obamacare and establish a state health insurance exchange that would compete with private insurance companies. That bill died, but the threat of government-controlled health insurance is alive and well!
After the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare on June 28th, Governor Deal responded that he would NOT rush to implement Obamacare in Georgia, but would be in a holding pattern until after the election. Obamacare set November 16th as the original deadline for states to report their plans, but that was the day 20 states (including Georgia) announced their decision NOT to set up state exchanges. It was, also, the day Governor Deal wrote a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius to explain his position. This is part of what he said:
“As you know, I remain concerned with the one-size-fits-all approach and high financial burden imposed on states by this federal mandate. Therefore, the state of Georgia: will not pursue a state-based exchange, will not operate its own reinsurance program, will maintain separate small group and individual insurance markets, and will continue to define ‘small group employer’ as up to 50 employees for the purposes of the small group insurance market.”Then, he said, “The State of Georgia takes seriously its legal authority over the state’s Medicaid program. We will continue to determine eligibility for all individuals seeking Medicaid in our state.”
And there’s more good news! On Monday November 26th the Supreme Court ordered the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider a 2010 lawsuit they had set aside. So, the Appeals Court is currently considering Liberty University’s argument that Obamacare violates Liberty University’s religious freedom, because of the mandatory reproductive provisions.
During the writing of Obamacare, the Department of Health and Human Services specified that health insurance policies for women must provide, free-of-charge, i.e. at tax-payer expense, the full range of reproductive services, including contraceptives and abortion-inducing drugs. That’s the basis for the lawsuit now under consideration, since religious employers, such as Liberty University, would be forced to pay for products and services that violate the conscience and religious liberty of Americans.
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel said, “Our fight against Obamacare is far from over!” Please call 404 656-1776 and thank Governor Deal for his strong opposition to Obamacare! For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.