Bill Text: NJ AR97 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President and Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services to grant extension for New Jersey residents to obtain health insurance.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 16-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee [AR97 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR97-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman SHAVONDA E. SUMTER
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman CHARLES MAINOR
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Wimberly, Singleton, Johnson, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblymen Wilson, Fuentes, Assemblywoman Watson Coleman, Assemblyman Green and Assemblywoman Spencer
SYNOPSIS
Urges President and Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services to grant extension for New Jersey residents to obtain health insurance.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging the President and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to grant an extension of time for residents of New Jersey to obtain health insurance in compliance with the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
Whereas, On March 31, 2014 open enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplace ends, and every American who does not fall under certain exceptions must have obtained health insurance to comply with the individual mandate pursuant to the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," Pub.L.111-148, as amended by the federal "Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010," Pub.L.111-152; and
Whereas, According to weather experts, the winter of 2013 and 2014 has been one of the harshest winters in decades, which has caused the Governor to declare a state of emergency due to snow at least four times and has caused an unusually high number of school and office closings; and
Whereas, While many residents of New Jersey will shop for health insurance in the online marketplace or over the phone, some residents do not have internet access or need further in-person assistance from individuals and organizations authorized to assist residents in signing up for health insurance, such as certified counselors, navigators, and federally qualified health centers; and
Whereas, The number of counselors, navigators, and health centers is limited and those individuals and organizations must serve wide geographic regions in which residents must travel; and
Whereas, It has been reported that local organizations, counselors and navigators have been forced to cancel events and office hours as a result of the frequent snow emergencies, causing great inconvenience and difficulty for some New Jersey residents in obtaining health insurance coverage and causing delays in enrollments; and
Whereas, Enrollment numbers for private policies in the federal marketplace in New Jersey remain below expectations, and the federal government should accommodate weather-related delays in enrollments by postponing the deadline for individuals to enroll in the federal marketplace in New Jersey; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the President and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to grant an extension of time for residents of New Jersey to obtain health insurance in compliance with the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act."
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges the President and the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to grant an extension of time for residents of New Jersey to obtain health insurance in compliance with the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," which is commonly known as the ACA.
On March 31, 2014 open enrollment in the federal health insurance marketplace ends, and every American who does not fall under certain exceptions must have obtained health insurance to comply with the ACA.
While many residents of New Jersey will shop for health insurance in the online marketplace or over the phone, some residents do not have internet access or need further in-person assistance from individuals and organizations authorized to assist residents in signing up for health insurance, such as certified counselors, navigators, and federally qualified health centers.
The winter of 2013 and 2014 has been one of the harshest winters in decades, which has caused local organizations, counselors and navigators to cancel events and office hours. These weather-related delays may have contributed to enrollment numbers for private policies in the federal marketplace in New Jersey remaining below expectations.
Therefore, the federal government should accommodate weather-related delays in enrollments by postponing the deadline for individuals to enroll in the federal marketplace in New Jersey.
