Yaw Supports Bill Protecting Consumers from Mandated Health Care Coverage

HARRISBURG – A legislative measure seeking to amend Pennsylvania’s Constitution by prohibiting mandated health care insurance coverage was approved today, 29-19, according to State Senator Gene Yaw (R-23).

Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, states that a person is not required to purchase health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

The legislation also prohibits the enactment of any law requiring a person to obtain or maintain health insurance coverage, except as required by a court; prohibiting a person from or penalizing a person for making direct payment to a health care provider; or instituting any penalty, tax, assessment, fee or fine for a person’s failure to obtain or maintain health insurance coverage.

“As Senator Scarnati alluded to in his remarks, this legislation is not ‘Obamacare,” Yaw said. “On the contrary, the intent of Senate Bill 10 is to prevent the government’s intrusion on state and individual rights, unlike the federal mandate currently before the United States Supreme Court.”

Pennsylvania is among 26 states that has filed suit against the federal government on the federal statutes’ constitutionality.

Senate Bill 10 now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration. The bill must be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and then must pass a statewide referendum vote in order to be approved.

Contact: Rita Zielonis
(717) 787-3280

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