//PublisherPerspectiveThe single reason why we might not see a delay of Obamacare’s individual mandateThere is something President Obama and his party want more than anything, and which virtually ensures the individual man- date portion of Obamacare will not see a de- lay in the same way the president broke his own law and extended the start date for the employer mandate.That one “thing?” The vote.Three states announced they will use federally funded navigators – unlicensed workers who will sign up people for free and subsidized health insurance through online exchanges – to register new voters in the ar- eas served by community and social servic- es organizations.Just in time for 2014’s mid-term elections.Although voter registration is not part of the Affordable Care Act, HHS incorporated voter registration into federal draft forms for subsidy applications. Interesting, because federal law leaves the responsibility for reg- istering voters up to states.So far, Connecticut, Vermont and Califor- nia said they will instruct navigators to reg- ister voters when they help people sign up for health insurance through their online mar- ketplaces, which each state is creating.What is unclear is if (more like, when) the Obama administration will make voter reg- istration part of the online health insurance exchanges in the 27 states where the federal government is creating exchanges, includ- ing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and in part, Delaware.Regardless, states will share in nearly $150 million in federal funding to enlist nav- igator groups, and, in select states, register voters. These navigator groups include faith-based organizations(churches), commu-nity health providers(clinics) and culturalorganizations (suchas La Raza). They willgo into communities,give people free healthinsurance or subsidies(in some cases morethan $6,000 per fam-ily), and then ask recipients if they want to register to vote...presumably for the party providing the giveaways.In the three states so far that will “navi- gate” and register voters, more than $24 mil- lion will be spent on those efforts. One can assume more states – or even the federal gov- ernment itself – will register voters as well.Many of those who will be encouraged to register likely have never voted before, and, arguably, may not be informed of the impor- tant issues in upcoming elections.The opportunity to put health insurance, subsidies and voter registration cards in the hands of millions of potential backers and voters is one the Obama administration would be loathe to pass up. Delaying the in- dividual mandate – and missing the oppor- tunity to register millions in time for mid- terms – is as unlikely as pigs flying.That’s my take.Tony OndrusekPublisher
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:49:17 +0000
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