DiMaio Bill Eliminating Health Insurance Mandate for County College Students Passes Assembly

TRENTON, N.J., March 21 -- The New Jersey Assembly Republicans issued the following news release:

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman John DiMaio eliminating the requirement that all full-time college students enrolled in New Jersey county colleges maintain health insurance received Assembly approval today.

"This is an important measure for county college students who would have faced significant health insurance costs with the full implementation of Obamacare," said DiMaio, R-Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset. "The requirement to carry health insurance has been burdensome. Many students can barely afford to pay their tuition," said DiMaio. "Add Obamacare to the mix and it's making policies far too expensive. Basic plans offered by schools are estimated to jump from a few hundred dollars annually to more than $1,500. Few students can afford such a financial shock to their pocketbooks.

"For county college students the cost of insurance will likely exceed the cost of tuition which will cause students to drop out, leaving them without insurance and without an education," he continued. "This legislation is the right thing to do. It will give students some measure of breathing room. I am happy to see my Democratic colleagues are acknowledging the detrimental financial impact Obamacare will have on all of us."

The bill, S-2291/A-3546 eliminates the requirement that every full-time student at county colleges in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage. The bill also eliminates the requirement that every full-time student annually present evidence of health insurance coverage and other provisions related to the health insurance coverage requirement.

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