The Ultimate Obamacare Delay

Last week, the individual mandate which was deemed the core of the Affordable Care Act by the Wall Street Journal has been ultimately delayed until at least 2016, when President Obama will no longer be in office. This delays the requirement for millions to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty.

“This latest political reconstruction has received zero media notice, and the Health and Human Services Department didn’t think the details were worth discussing in a conference call, press materials or fact sheet,” according to the WSJ. The delay was snuck through because it was attached to an unrelated rule which preserved some plans that failed to comply with Obamacare’s benefit and redistribution requirements. The Journal says their sources were not aware of the delay until this week.

This most recent delay includes a number of options which would allow individuals to opt-out of the individual mandate. These exemptions allow almost anyone to opt out of the individual mandate.

One example of the many exemptions is reported by the Journal: the bulletin which announced this two year grace period referenced a rule in a December 2013 bulletin, explaining that it would be extended by two years.  This rule would allow the millions with canceled policies to basically opt-out of the mandate, according to the Blaze.

 

Katherine Zehnder

Katherine Zehnder

I'm junior majoring in English, with an emphasis in government and a minor in history. I'm also a contributor to the Blaze, & a Staff Editor for 2AO Nation, and a columnist for Turning Point USA.