Indiana Governor-elect Mike Pence

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Indiana Governor-elect Mike Pence does not want Indiana to create its own health exchange under the federal Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare.

Pence sent a letter to current Governor Mitch Daniels on Thursday stating that creating a state-run health insurance exchange will cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

“It is not clear that Hoosiers would benefit from incurring the cost of implementing this new federal healthcare bureaucracy,” Pence, a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act during his time in Congress, said in his letter.

The soon-to-be new governor said he has concerns over uncertainty regarding cost and regulation of state-based exchanges, and what he called a certainty of higher taxes and higher premiums for Hoosiers.

A deadline has been extended until February 16, 2013 for states to send the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services an answer on a federal-state partnership exchange option. Pence said he remains opposed to Indiana joining a partnership with the federal government, “absent new information.”

“Hoosiers may be assured that we will continue to evaluate the best course of action for the people of our state and will make every effort to continue to develop locally-based, innovative solutions to make insurance more affordable and increase access to care for all Hoosiers,” said Pence. 

A more immediate deadline looms. States must tell the federal government by Friday, November 15 whether or not they intend to establish a state-based exchange. Officially, the responsibility lies with Daniels, but he has been seeking input from gubernatorial candidates since before the November 6 election.

Pence's full letter to Daniels can be read on Pence's campaign website, http://mikepence.com/exchange.

LINKS:

Pence to Daniels: Don't Allow Affordable Care Act

Daniels Wants Candidates' Input On Obamacare