Commissioner Mike Chaney Statement On Supreme Court Ruling On PPACA
JACKSON , MS- This is a lengthy and complicated decision that the department and I are continuing to review. I have expressed grave concerns about several provisions of the Affordable Care Act and the impact on availability and affordability of health insurance.
We need stability and predictability in the marketplace to prevent drastic increases in premiums for Mississippians. This law will result in tax increases on Americans and Mississippians and may be detrimental to senior citizens.
The law has been upheld by the Supreme Court and continues to be the law of the land. It is my job as a regulator to abide by all state and federal laws whether I agree with them or not. We have been proceeding as the law mandated and we will continue to do that.
We will continue to consult with Gov. Bryant, Lt. Gov. Reeves and the Speaker of the House about the impacts of the ruling on Mississippi. We are moving along in developing a health insurance exchange which will increase access to health insurance and help stabilize costs for small employers. I believe that we have acted diligently. The result is a state-based exchange which will prevent us from deferring to a federally-run exchange.
There is value in creating a state-based exchange in Mississippi. There is still a federal mandate that every state create an exchange by 2014. If we do not operate an exchange then the federal government will run one for us. Right now we have the flexibility and are well on our way to creating free market option, created by Mississippians, for Mississippians.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney
6/28/12
Magnolia Tribune
