States seeking to ban mandatory health insurance

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Conservative lawmakers in a majority
of states are forging ahead with constitutional amendments to ban
government health insurance mandates.

The proposals would assert a state-based right for people to pay
medical bills from their own pocketbooks and prohibit penalties
against those who refuse to carry health insurance.

Many proposals began as a backlash to Democratic health care
plans in Congress. Whether the measures legally could stop federal
health insurance mandates is questionable. Federal laws generally
trump state laws.

The American Legislative Exchange Council says lawmakers in 34
states have filed or proposed state constitutional amendments or
laws rejecting health insurance mandates, many targeted for the
November ballot.