Following on from the Republican tax bill , several Democratic - led states are looking to implement state - level individual mandates to overcome bare counties and the problem of failing risk pools . California , Connecticut , New York , Maryland and Washington State , are all considering the move when their state legislatures come into session in early 2018 . It is likely that the states will attempt to implement a model similar to that of RomneyCare , introduced in Massachusetts in 2006 , and the state ’s individual mandate . These states do not require federal approval for the program as the mandate penalty is a tax , and as a result , have the ability to implement their own version of the Obamacare mandate . It is unlikely that the move will extend beyond these states as there is far more likely to be partisan pushback as state legislatures often skew to the right . California, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, and Washington state are all considering pursuing state individual mandates for insurance coverage when their state legislatures come into session in early 2018 ,... California , in particular , is looking at the possibility of a statewide individual mandate to overcome the uncertainty at federal level surrounding Obamacare . Maryland too would likely introduce an individual mandate , Massachusetts could fall back on its original model , with Washington State proving the most complicated .
Following on from the Republican tax bill , several Democratic - led states are looking to implement state - level individual mandates to overcome bare counties and the problem of failing risk pools . California , Connecticut , New York , Maryland and Washington State , are all considering the move when their state legislatures come into session in early 2018 . It is likely that the states will attempt to implement a model similar to that of RomneyCare , introduced in Massachusetts in 2006 , and the state ’s individual mandate . These states do not require federal approval for the program as the mandate penalty is a tax , and as a result , have the ability to implement their own version of the Obamacare mandate . It is unlikely that the move will extend beyond these states as there is far more likely to be partisan pushback as state legislatures often skew to the right . California , in particular , is looking at the possibility of a statewide individual mandate to overcome the uncertainty at federal level surrounding Obamacare . Maryland too would likely introduce an individual mandate , Massachusetts could fall back on its original model , with Washington State proving the most complicated .