New Jersey Revives Obamacare Mandate

The Affordable Care Act's individual mandate that was repealed by Congress last year is likely to be reinstated in New Jersey.

On Thursday, Garden State lawmakers sent a bill to Gov. Phil Murphy that would revive the mandate, requiring those without health insurance to pay a fine of 2.5 percent of their income or $695 per adult and $347 per child, whichever is greater.

The bill was fast-tracked to the governor's office after passing 23-13 in the Senate and 50-23 in the Assembly.

State lawmakers told the Asbury Park Press newspaper the mandate kick-start is an attempt to stabilize New Jersey's insurance markets by ensuring healthy residents continue to purchase coverage.

The New Jersey legislature also passed another bill that would set up a reinsurance plan partly paid for by the federal government and covering very expensive health care claims.

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