7/17/13 - Congressman Mike Rogers has re-introduced a bill to expand the waiver process in the federal health care law. The Howell Republican re-introduced The Health Care Waiver Fairness Act, which would require the federal Health and Human Services department to establish a waiver for any mandate in the health care law and allows anyone to apply for them â individuals, employers or private health insurers. The proposed Act follows a decision by the Obama administration to not enforce the employer mandate portion of the federal health care law for another year, which requires companies with 50 or more employees to provide insurance or pay a tax. Obama Administration officials say the vast majority of businesses covered under the provision already provide healthcare coverage to their workers. They say the delay is to make sure those businesses that donât will be able to meet the requirements effectively and efficiently. Individuals are still expected to purchase health insurance by January, if they're not covered through an employer. The law already allows consumers to apply for hardship waivers if theyâre uninsured, and low income families are able to obtain tax credits to offset the cost of health insurance. (JM)
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