ObamaCare in Illinois: Just say no to a state exchange

Some bad ideas just won’t stay dead. Despite reasonable opposition from both sides of the aisle in Springfield, some political activists are continuing to push the idea of a state-based health insurance exchange. Illinois has a state-federal partnership exchange currently. At a time when the state’s health-care bureaucracy was caught paying Medicaid benefits on behalf of dead...

Some bad ideas just won’t stay dead. Despite reasonable opposition from both sides of the aisle in Springfield, some political activists are continuing to push the idea of a state-based health insurance exchange. Illinois has a state-federal partnership exchange currently.

At a time when the state’s health-care bureaucracy was caught paying Medicaid benefits on behalf of dead people, the idea that it should take a larger role in the health affairs of the rest of the population is stunning. But that is exactly what some are hoping.

According to a recent AP article, “Health care advocates are pushing the Democrats who control the Illinois Legislature to pass a measure enabling a state exchange.” Fortunately, that idea continues to receive little enthusiasm from state lawmakers.

Not only is a state-exchange not required under the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare, but the cost to Illinois taxpayers could easily reach $100 million. What’s more, state exchanges in Oregon and Maryland have made the roll out of the federal website look anything but seamless.

As a result of ObamaCare, Illinoisans across the state lost their health insurance coverage, many faced reductions in their work hours and many are paying higher insurance premiums. Illinois needs less – not more – ObamaCare.

That is why any lawmaker who embraces this misguided proposal to further expand ObamaCare’s reach in Illinois should agree to live under ObamaCare. They should forgo their generous taxpayer-funded health insurance benefits and voluntarily enter the ObamaCare exchange.

For 2014, lawmakers who are enrolled in the Illinois State Employees’ Group Insurance Program will pay between $119 and $144 per month for their own coverage, depending on the coverage they choose if they receive no other outside income. The highest possible rate under any plan is $211. Under the Illinois exchange, the absolute lowest-cost premium for a 50-year-old individual, for example, starts at $193.79 and, depending on coverage level, rates can exceed $650 per month.

There is no doubt that Illinoisans need health care access and affordability. But the solution isn’t to further expand this costly and destructive scheme in Illinois. Any lawmaker stepping forward to further impose this calamitous scheme on the rest of us should be prepared to live under it.