Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) today introduced legislation that would expand health care coverage and hardship exemptions for individuals who live in areas where no health insurers are offering qualified plans on the exchange. Specifically, the bill would prevent an individual from being unfairly penalized for failing to maintain coverage in areas where an affordable option is not available. Individuals would also have the option of purchasing a short-term health plan without penalty or a catastrophic plan for additional coverage.

Last month, Arizona’s Pinal County became the first in the nation to be left without an insurer in the marketplace. While this issue has been addressed in Pinal County for the near future, it could and likely will happen again. Currently, one out of every three counties in the nation will have only one insurer on the exchange for next year.

View the full text of the bill here.

“To fine someone because they don’t have access to affordable health care is beyond absurd,” said Flake. “Obamacare is a disaster and – as we saw during the near-collapse of Pinal County’s exchange – the administration cannot be counted on to clean up the mess. If people are going to get relief, it’s going to come from commonsense congressional reforms such as this.”

Background: Last week, Flake joined Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) to introduce the Protection from Obamacare Monopolies Act. This legislation would protect all individuals who live in a county with one or no health care plans available on the Obamacare exchanges from the individual mandate tax.

Video of Flake and McCain on the Senate floor discussing the failures of Obamacare in Arizona can be viewed here.

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