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Gov. Chris Christie has allowed a $7.6 million federal grant, to be used to encourage New Jersey residents to enroll for health insurance under Obamacare, to expire.
(Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger)
The Christie administration allowed a $7.6 million federal grant, to be used to encourage New Jerseyans to enroll for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, to expire. That's an expensive mistake.
The money was first made available to help New Jersey set up its own health care exchange - which Gov. Chris Christie refused to do. Once that opportunity had passed, the money could have been used to help get New Jerseryans enrolled in Obamacare programs.
The Star-Ledger editorial board began sounding this alarm in September:
And when people don’t enroll, we all pay more. Not just for emergency room bills. Also for insurance premiums, which will be higher if we don’t get young, healthy adults to sign up. Then there’s the 3.5 percent fee that the federal government will apply to all insurers because we chose a federal exchange — a cost that is likely to be passed down to consumers.
Christie isn't the only Republican governor to put up hurdles to the implementation of Obamacare in his home state. It's practically a nationwide policy statement, and it certainly falls in line with Christie's attempts to woo a national GOP audience as he mulls a White House run in 2016.
But it hurts New Jersey residents who would benefit from the health care subsidies provided under the federal law, as well. The money was there to be had: Christie was irresponsible not to grab it.
Tell us what you think: Should the Christie administration have taken the $7.6 million to promote Obamacare? Or was it more important for the conservative governor to make an anti-Affordable Care Act stance? Share your thoughts in the comments.