Senator To Move Ahead With Health Exchange Legislation
TRENTON – Senator Nia H. Gill (D-Essex), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on today’s United States Supreme Court decision on the federal Affordable Care Act:
“Today’s decision is a victory for the people of New Jersey.
“Under the Affordable Care Act, hundreds of thousands of uninsured New Jerseyans will be provided quality, affordable health care coverage. Consumers will be protected from abuses and be able to purchase insurance that best suits their individuals needs.
“Now that we have validation the law is constitutional, we must forge ahead with our responsibilities as a state so that our residents are afforded the true benefits of health reform. We must move forward with the implementation of a state-based health exchange that allows individuals and businesses to shop for insurance in a transparent virtual marketplace and to access federal subsidies that will make care more affordable.
“Today I am re-introducing legislation to implement a state-based health exchange in New Jersey. An active-purchaser exchange will give us the ability to leverage high-quality affordable health care coverage for the 1.3 million uninsured and for those who are underinsured across our state. It will allow us to oversee the insurance market, to respond to the needs of our residents and businesses and to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.
“We must move swiftly on this bill, as creation of the exchange is an extremely detailed and work-intensive process. Given the delay that has already taken place, time is of the essence.”