Arizona Rejects Ballot Measure To Make Mandated Health Coverage Illegal

Arizona voters in the Nov. 4 election rejected the ballot measure Proposition 101, known as the Freedom of Choice Healthcare Act, the Vail Sun reports (Grimes, Vail Sun, 11/12). The measure would have amended the state's constitution to prohibit laws that mandate people obtain health coverage, or that restrict an individual's choice of private health care systems or private health plans. Proposition 101 also would have prohibited laws that interfere with an individual's "right to pay directly for lawful medical services" or that impose a penalty or fine on an individual who chooses not to obtain coverage (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/21). In the vote, 867,642 Arizona residents voted for the proposition and 869,752 voted against it (Vail Sun, 11/12).