State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

As Other States Have Abandoned Efforts, New Jersey Passes Individual Mandate

Governing: In February, The Wall Street Journal reported that, in light of the federal repeal of the individual mandate, nine states and the District of Columbia were looking into implementing their own mandates.

Just three months later, such talk has all but disappeared. As states wrap up their legislative sessions, only New Jersey has passed a bill mandating residents to have health insurance coverage.

The federal mandate, which required every American to have health insurance or face a fine during tax season, was repealed in December as part of the federal overhaul of the tax code. In lieu of dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Congress targeted the mandate, which was always one of the more controversial pieces of the law.

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