Virginia bans mandated health care

MSNBC reported Wednesday that the state of Virginia the became first in the nation to approve legislation "that bucks federal health care reforms by banning mandatory health insurance coverage." ( See HB 10 here )

The article also indicated that thirty-four other legislatures have filed or proposed similar measures. Kentucky HB 254, for example, would create, in part, "a new section of Subtitle 17A of KRS Chapter 304 to provide that no individual nor any business entity domiciled in Kentucky shall be required to purchase health insurance coverage, notwithstanding any federal mandate, fines, taxes or penalties;" HB 307 would "…prohibit the General Assembly from requiring any individual to participate in any health care system or plan, or to impose a penalty or fine regarding participation;" and HB 585 "declare that a law or rule shall not compel any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system."

Other states, however, apparently have legislation on both sides of the issue. Here in Ohio, for example, HB 159, which was introduced in April 2009, intended to "establish and operate the Ohio Health Care Plan to provide universal health care coverage to all Ohio residents." Senate Resolution 7 and House Resolution 3 from last Sept., echoed each other, however, in "Proposing to enact Section 43 of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio to prohibit a law or rule from compelling a person, employer, or health care provider to participate in a health care system,”