PHOENIX – The Arizona House has approved legislation to allow private health insurance policies for uninsured individuals that would omit some coverages normally mandated by the state.
The bill was sent to the Senate on a 48-12 vote Wednesday but its fate in the current legislative session is uncertain because the Senate has a months-old embargo on nonbudget bills.
Supporters said the business-backed bill (HB 2324) would help make health insurance less expensive for uninsured people.
One legislator who voted against the bill said Arizonans could be hurt by having insurance that doesn’t cover things such as treatment for alcoholism.
The state already has a law allowing “mandate light” policies for small groups of people, such as employees of businesses.