Preparing for the Worst, Praying for the Best
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, April 19, 2013 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
ACTION – Call 404 656-1776 and ask Governor Deal to refuse to
allow ahealth exchange to be created in Georgia.
Good morning, Jim. Try as we may, we cannot avoid the fact that Obamacare is law and the Supreme Court decided it IS constitutional and called it a tax, not a mandate to buy something we don’t want.
With that in mind, I’ll outline H.B. 198 that passed the House and Senate March 11th. It authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to license navigators to work in a health exchange if necessary. But I learned something important when I read the bill’s last paragraph that says:
“The provisions of this Act shall become applicable only upon the notification by the federal Department of health and Human Services … to the Governor, the Commissioner of Insurance, or other responsible … official of Georgia that a health insurance exchange has been created or approved to operate within the State of Georgia.” That says Georgia will not have an exchange UNLESS the federal government sets it up under Obamacare.That reassured me that Governor Deal will NOT create a Georgia health exchange himself, but is outlining the restrictions and duties of Obamacare navigators, IF the federal government, operating under federal law, exercises its muscle and creates an exchange in Georgia.
To be licensed, a navigator must be at least 18 years old, of good moral character and pass a criminal and regulatory background check. Licensed navigators will direct individuals and companies to health insurance policies, but cannot recommend a particular health benefit plan or say which is better or worse or advise which plan to choose. Georgia licensed navigators will not work on commission but will draw a salary. They cannot solicit any person or business that is currently insured under an existing health benefit plan.
Licensed navigators may include an organization or business that has specified an individual from the organization or business to act as a navigator. All applicants must successfully complete at least 35 hours of instruction in health benefit insurance, the exchanges under Obamacare, a medical assistance program and PeachCare for Kids in Georgia.
All this is happening because (a) Congress passed Obamacare without reading it and (b) the Supreme Court twisted its decision and deemed it constitutional. Ask the governor to stand firmly against Obamacare mandates and pray without ceasing. The Lord could block its implementation! Additional information is available on pages two and three in the April issue of Georgia Insight, available at georgiainsight.org. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.