The campaign of Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) is calling shenanigans on his Republican opponent, former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, over changes to the Christie Web site that rephrase Christie’s position on mandated coverage in health insurance policies.
Corzine has been hammering quite effectively at Christie on this, arguing that allowing policies not subject to state mandates would result in insurance companies denying coverage of mammograms, autism screenings and other important procedures.
In a campaign e-mail, the Corzine team includes a link to an old Google cached version of Christie’s Web page on this issue, comparing to the new one — which does not use the phrase “mandate-free,” but instead presents mandate-free plans as an option that consumers can pick instead of the mandate-subjected ones.
The Christie Web site used to say:
Offer “Mandate-Free” Policies. Insurance companies will be permitted to offer “mandate-free” policies. These policies might better fit the needs of some consumers who may not need extravagant benefits, such as young, single consumers.
It now says:
Chris’ plan will allow for insurance carriers to offer multiple plans in addition to a mandated plan so that people can pick and choose the type of affordable coverage the best fits their personal health care needs. Right now New Jersey has 45 mandates, which drive up the cost of health care plans and make it virtually impossible for some New Jerseyans to afford coverage. By allowing insurance carriers to offer multiple plans with different options, New Jerseyans currently priced out of the market and without insurance will now be able to afford a plan that works to fit their needs. Chris’ plan will reduce the numbers of New Jerseyans currently without health insurance.
“Christie has said all along that he would allow insurance companies to drop coverage for mandated procedures like mammograms and autism screenings,” the Corzine campaign e-mail says. “Maybe he doesn’t understand the fact that before they were required to cover these procedures, insurance companies didn’t. But it’s no surprise to the countless New Jerseyans who have been denied coverage by their insurance company.”
A request for comment from the Christie campaign has not been returned.
