California Prepares to Skirt Part of Obamacare Regulations

Will not keep three-month grace period for non-payment

One of the most liberal states in the nation has said no thanks to a key Obamacare provision and instead is enacting its own version of the law.

California has decided to skirt the "Buy 1, Get 3 Free!" loophole in the Affordable Care Act, a modest piece of the sprawling health care regulation with huge implications. The provision holds the insured blameless for failing to make monthly premium payments while requiring doctors and insurers to continue to offer health care. During a three-month grace period before cancellation, subsidized policy holders can see doctors, have operations and rack up medical bills without paying for anything.

Doctors and insurers will be left holding the bag.