Ducey last week signed House Bill 2643, which forbids Arizona setting up its own Affordable Care Act health exchange. The bill has little immediate impact on the Arizona residents who get coverage through the federal marketplace, but it could have a big impact in a few months.
In June, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in King vs. Burwell, a case that examines whether subsidies are allowed for people who buy health insurance through the federal marketplace or should be limited to states that run their own insurance exchanges.
Arizona is one of 34 states on the federal health marketplace, healthcare.gov. If the high court strikes down subsidies through the marketplace, states could decide to establish their own marketplaces to ensure consumers continue to collect subsidies to help purchase health insurance.
But HB 2643, sponsored by Arizona Rep. Justin Olson, R-Mesa, and Rep. Vince Leach, R-Oro Valley/Marana, takes that option off the table for Arizonans. The bill bars the state from funding or implementing a state-based health exchange or federal marketplace.
