New bill in Maine calls for lawmakers to pay health insurance tax

Republican legislators in Maine have proposed a new bill that would levy a $4 monthly health insurance tax throughout the state. The bill notably exempts federal and state employees from the tax, drawing harsh criticism from both Democrats and citizens. Democrats had submitted amendments to the bill late last week that would remove the exemption for lawmakers, but the notion was dismissed by Republicans. However, Senator Richard Whittemore, R-Skowhegan, issued an emergency legislation that would require state legislators to be included in the tax. The reasoning behind the proposed tax…

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Many concerned over Maine’s new health insurance law

Lawmakers in Maine have been working toward new health care laws in an effort to improve the state’s insurance market. Yesterday, Governor Paul LePage signed a new law that may clash with federal regulations that will come into effect the being of 2014. The new law will allow insurers to raise rates for older policyholders which, in some cases, can end up being five times higher compared to policies held by younger people. This comes into direct conflict with the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, as do a number of…

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