Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz announced her support for an Administration proposal that would give states the flexibility to develop comprehensive, affordable health coverage plans to meet the specific needs of their constituents. The proposed rule, which is based on bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Scott Brown (R-MA), would allow states to implement their own health insurance exchanges when the majority of the Affordable Care Act goes into effect in 2014.

Currently, states are required to wait until 2017 to apply for waivers to implement their own state health insurance exchanges. The proposed rule was issued on March 10th by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Treasury.

“The Affordable Care Act fosters innovation and market-based solutions to health care while ensuring access to quality, affordable coverage for all Americans,” Schwartz said. “The administration’s proposal builds on those principles by providing state lawmakers the opportunity to generate unique and innovative approaches to health care. This allows states to focus on how best to implement the law from day one.”

The Affordable Care Act made available nearly $300 billion in funding to States to build Health Insurance Exchanges and expand Medicaid eligibility. Individuals and small businesses too often pay higher insurance rates because they lack purchasing power and the ability to pool risk. The health reform law changes that by providing them with competitive, consumer-based health insurance marketplaces, which offer at least a basic level of comprehensive benefits.

The state waiver provides additional opportunities for innovation and ensures that individuals can purchase insurance coverage that is just as affordable as it is under current law. 

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